Lead - Footwear Material Designer

On Holding
Zurich
Workplace: OnsiteFull timeFunction: Design (Product/UX/UI/Visual)Experience: 8-10 yearsEducation: bachelorsSkills: ["Leadership","Communication","Presentation","Storytelling","Collaboration"]

Lead the long-term material design vision across On’s product categories, driving innovation, sustainability, and market-relevant storytelling. Set seasonal material directions, oversee development of engineered materials, and mentor a team of Material Designers while partnering with Footwear Design, Color, Development, and Product Strategy to ensure design intent and brand impact at a global level.

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On Holding
On Holding
4 months ago

Lead - Footwear Material Designer

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Last checked: 9 hours agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Lead the long-term material design vision across On’s product categories, driving innovation, sustainability, and market-relevant storytelling. Set seasonal material directions, oversee development of engineered materials, and mentor a team of Material Designers while partnering with Footwear Design, Color, Development, and Product Strategy to ensure design intent and brand impact at a global level.
Location: Zurich
Workplace: Onsite
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Design (Product/UX/UI/Visual)
Seniority: Sr. Manager level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Define and drive the long-term material design vision across categories, aligning with brand, product strategy, and business goals
  • •Own and lead seasonal material briefs, ensuring clarity, innovation, and alignment with commercial, sustainability, and margin targets
  • •Establish strong, differentiated material narratives that elevate product storytelling and reinforce brand identity
  • •Lead the exploration and integration of new materials, technologies, and finishes, pushing boundaries in performance and sustainability
  • •Guide and challenge the development of engineered materials and constructions, ensuring design intent is realized at the highest level

Key Requirements

  • •Bachelor’s degree in Textile Design, Product Design, or a related field
  • •8–10+ years of experience in footwear or performance product design with deep expertise in Material Design
  • •Proven track record of leading material direction and delivering innovative, commercially successful products
  • •Strong expertise in material construction, manufacturing processes, and performance requirements
  • •Demonstrated ability to lead teams and influence cross-functional stakeholders at multiple levels
Experience:8-10 yearsFootwearMaterial designProduct designSustainability
Education:Bachelor's
Skills:LeadershipCommunicationPresentationStorytellingCollaboration
Languages:English
Tech Stack:Adobe Creative SuitePLM3D

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
WebsiteLinkedIn