Overview Product excellence and innovation is at the heart of our success. Achieving a leadership position in the marketplace requires innovative thinking and the ability to inspire all product creation stakeholders. The Senior Lead Apparel Development Lifestyle will be responsible for driving this creation forward by managing a diverse development team that brings our highly technical sportswear products to life with a sharper, tailored and luxury lens. With a keen eye for process, a detail-oriented mind coupled with a passion for innovation, this key position will be a vital part in the creation of tomorrow’s effortless lifestyle fashion apparel. You will have had several dedicated years working in product development with complex processes and solid experience running a multi-faceted, high performance teams. You’ll look at challenges with a solutions-oriented outlook and take initiative to improve them, continuously striving for pinnacle products that excite our global customer class.
Your Mission Play a critical part of building On’s world class Lifestyle apparel collection that pushes the boundaries of product innovation, responding to the specific needs of On customers, and fusing unrivaled function with timeless styling in our pinnacle product range
Develop and improve the On Apparel fit by bringing function, form, comfort, and aesthetic to all lifestyle-related garments (which includes Collabs, SMU, Olympics, PAD & PO verticals)
Lead fitting sessions while advising on pattern and fit amendments alongside the Apparel Engineering team
Co-create 3D strategy for the development and sample prototyping process alongside our Head of Technical Development
Play a leading role in owning special innovation projects and key strategic initiatives with other Apparel Development Leads and the Director of Apparel Creation
Maintain creation calendar integrity within your team and own all key development milestones that center around our brand mission, design intent, and our stringent quality standards
Manage and own the holistic product development process from concept sampling up to STS and size set samples, right before styles go into bulk production (handled by our Asia Sourcing Office based in Hanoi, Vietnam)
Possess a strong understanding of how fabrics play a crucial part of our product creation and cost engineering efforts
Work with our Sourcing partners on seasonal T1 product allocation in terms of supplier capability, technical expertise, and workmanship/construction requirements
Collaborate with the relevant Product Managers to identify product requirements for seasonal line assortments, commercial market needs, product delivery schedules, and product sales performance in relation to future lifestyle collections
Build and maintain strong relationships with key strategic business partners such as our T1 garment vendors (in Asia and EU), T2 material suppliers, and third-party wash/dye, printing, and other garment finishing facilities around the world
Provide leadership and mentoring to your immediate team as well as the overall development org by setting attainable goals, providing on the spot feedback and empathetic mentorship that will increase both individual and team productivity and happiness
Your Story Bachelor’s degree or higher (with emphasis on Apparel, Fashion, Design, Textiles, Retail, etc. a plus)
Minimum 10+ years of relevant work and team management experience in the fashion industry (luxury brand experience preferred) specializing in product development, technical development, design, or other apparel related fields
Excellent understanding of the industry’s processes and sportswear/fashion market knowledge with the ability to lead cross-functional projects toward a collaborative vision
Willingness to travel globally on a regular basis to our suppliers to create, develop, and commercialize On apparel, in line with our company strategy and vision
Be the true embodiment of a team player and human-first leader
Balance creativity with organization and discipline in a fast-paced environment
Embrace ambiguity and change management while bringing an entrepreneurial spirit when facing unexpected challenges
Work calmly and reliably in an ever-changing environment, attention to detail, and react quickly with the ever-changing global retail landscape
Strong experience in garment construction and components, fit and sizing protocol, pattern making, 3D prototyping, and product creation processes and SOPs
Exposure to and interest in the latest emerging concepts and technologies in design, product development, and material innovation
Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills
Share in our passion for igniting the human spirit through movement!
Meet The Team We are an innovative, creative, and science-driven development team working closely to convert cutting-edge ideas into viable prototypes and eventually commercializing them into exceptional performance products sold globally at premium sport retailers, in our global flagship stores, and in our DTC channel. High quality, aesthetically pleasing, and truly functional attributes are top of mind when creating our two season apparel collections and multiple fashion collaborations. Our cross-functional teams combine the best experts in fields such as Development, Design, Materials, Innovation, Sourcing, Testing, and Product Management/Merchandising to create truly extraordinary product.
What We Offer On is a place that is centered around growth and progress. We offer an environment designed to give people the tools to develop holistically - to stay active, to learn, explore and innovate. Our distinctive approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere, with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, so each person is led by purpose. On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.
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