About the job
The Director of Strategy & Operations, Footwear Product Innovation shapes the foundation of On Running AG’s Footwear Creation division in Zurich. This leader transforms the company’s 2030 Long Range Plan into actionable strategies, collaborating with Development, Engineering, Materials, and Sustainability teams. The role manages the Long Range Plan (LRP) initiative portfolio, streamlines leadership routines, and drives measurable improvements to support the delivery of innovative, Swiss-engineered footwear.
Strategic Leadership and Execution
- Translate On’s 2030 Long Range Plan and annual objectives into a multi-year strategy for Footwear Product Creation.
- Oversee the footwear portfolio, making decisions on sequencing and resource allocation for technical initiatives to achieve commercial goals.
Portfolio Strategy and Leadership Coordination
- Direct seasonal portfolio planning, including capacity modeling, resource distribution, and project prioritization.
- Design and manage the operational cadence for Footwear Creation, such as weekly leadership meetings, monthly reviews, and quarterly strategic sessions.
- Lead key leadership discussions by setting agendas, preparing materials, guiding decisions, and ensuring follow-up across forums.
- Act as the main coordinator between Creation and cross-functional partners, including Innovation, Sourcing, Brand, and Supply Chain.
- Develop portfolio dashboards to provide leadership with real-time insights on capacity, progress, risks, and trade-offs.
Process Improvement and Transformation
- Initiate strategic projects to accelerate creation speed, improve stage-gate processes, and integrate systems.
- Identify and eliminate workflow inefficiencies; challenge processes that do not add value.
- Promote new operational methods using clear metrics, change management, and responsive feedback loops.
- Encourage accountability and prompt decision-making within the Creation leadership team.
Change Management and Stakeholder Engagement
- Champion new initiatives through structured change management practices, engaging stakeholders at all levels.
