Senior Lead - Accessories Material Development

On Holding
Zurich
Workplace: OnsiteFull timeFunction: Administration & Executive AssistanceEducation: bachelorsSkills: ["Communication","Influencing","Leadership","Problem-solving"]

Senior-led, high-visibility role owning material strategy and innovation for On Accessories. Drives long-term development of high-performance fabrics and trims, collaborates with global suppliers, and ensures sustainability and product integrity across Design, Development, Quality, and Sourcing. Shapes material data in PLM, manages color strategies, and stays ahead of industry trends to maintain competitive edge.

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On Holding
On Holding
2 months ago

Senior Lead - Accessories Material Development

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Job Summary

Senior-led, high-visibility role owning material strategy and innovation for On Accessories. Drives long-term development of high-performance fabrics and trims, collaborates with global suppliers, and ensures sustainability and product integrity across Design, Development, Quality, and Sourcing. Shapes material data in PLM, manages color strategies, and stays ahead of industry trends to maintain competitive edge.
Location: Zurich
Workplace: Onsite
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Administration & Executive Assistance
Seniority: Sr. Manager level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Architect and drive the long-term material strategy and innovation pipeline for On Accessories, translating high-level design visions into high-performance, commercially viable realities.
  • •Proactively identify, engineer, and validate next-generation fabrics and trims. Lead advanced material concepts from ideation through complex technical validation to future-proof On’s product offering.
  • •Serve as the strategic technical lead with global suppliers, managing high-level technical communication, ensuring strict adherence to On's elite performance and sustainability standards, and optimising development timelines.
  • •Act as the core technical anchor between Design, Product Development, Quality, and Sourcing to ensure seamless alignment, uncompromised product integrity, and the realisation of ambitious sustainability targets.
  • •Own the integrity of advanced material data within the PLM system, ensuring technical specifications, cost structures, and compliance metrics support scalable commercialisation.
  • •Oversee the technical execution of the seasonal color strategy and lab dip processes, coordinating between creative and technical stakeholders to resolve complex color/material feasibility topics.
  • •Serve as the category subject-matter expert, continuously analysing global industry trends, advanced textile technologies, and analogous market innovations to maintain On’s competitive edge.

Key Requirements

  • •Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Textile Sciences, Textile Engineering/Technology from a global university or commensurate industry experience.
  • •10+ years of deep, global hands-on experience in the performance textile industry with Asia & Europe supplier/factory experience.
  • •Comprehensive, expert-level understanding of advanced manufacturing processes for materials and trim, polymer science, weaving/knitting technologies, and specialised trim construction.
  • •Superior communication and presentation skills (verbal and written in English), with a demonstrated ability to influence executive stakeholders and align diverse, cross-functional teams without direct authority.
  • •Proven ability to navigate ambiguity, solve complex technical challenges autonomously, and maintain rigorous organisational discipline in a fast-paced, premium R&D environment.
Experience:Textile
Education:Bachelor's in Textile Sciences
Skills:CommunicationInfluencingLeadershipProblem-solving
Languages:English
Tech Stack:PLMWeavingKnittingPolymer scienceLab dipColor management

Company Brief

On Holding
Designs, manufactures, and sells performance running shoes, apparel, and accessories under the On brand. Combines Swiss engineering and innovation with lifestyle design to serve runners and athletes globally through retail and direct-to-consumer channels.
Industry: Fashion & Apparel
Company Size: Enterprise (1,001+ employees)
Revenue: USD 1B+
Growth: Public Company
Valuation: Public Company (Market Cap in USD)
Funding: IPO / Publicly Listed
Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland
Founded: 2010
Glassdoor
Glassdoor: 4.0
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