Lead - Footwear Design, Special Projects
As the Lead Footwear Designer for Special Projects, you will define the creative direction and execution of ON’s most innovative and high-profile footwear initiatives. This role centers on shaping ON’s limited-edition collections, strategic collaborations, and experimental concepts—balancing bold creativity with performance-driven design.
You will lead a multi-disciplinary design process, working closely with development, innovation, product management, and marketing teams. From early concept exploration to final product delivery, you’ll drive impactful storytelling and craft elevated footwear experiences that push boundaries and resonate globally.
Your Mission
* Lead the design direction and creative development of ON’s Special Projects footwear collections
* Translate cultural insights, market trends, and strategic opportunities into compelling and commercially relevant design concepts
* Guide and mentor a team of designers, ensuring consistent quality and creative alignment across all Special Projects initiatives
* Drive collaboration with cross-functional teams—including Product Management, Innovation, Development, and Marketing—to bring concepts to life
* Own the design process end-to-end, delivering sketches, 2D/3D CADs, specs, and prototypes that meet ON’s performance and design standards
* Partner with internal and external stakeholders, including collaborators and factories, to ensure smooth execution from design to production
* Stay ahead of global design, lifestyle, and performance trends, translating insights into fresh and future-ready product stories
* Represent Special Projects design in key meetings, retail visits, and industry events to inform creative strategy and elevate brand presence
Your story
* Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Footwear Design, Industrial/Product Design, or a related field
* 6+ years of experience in footwear design, including leading projects within special projects, collaborations, or advanced concepts
* A strong portfolio that demonstrates innovative and strategic design work across lifestyle and/or performance footwear
* Proven ability to lead projects across multiple timelines while balancing creative vision with technical feasibility
* Strong communication and presentation skills; confident in sharing and defending design direction across diverse teams
* Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and 3D design/rendering tools (e.g., Rhino, KeyShot, Blender)
* Entrepreneurial, team-oriented, and driven by curiosity and experimentation
* Fluent in English, written and spoken; additional languages are a plus
About the Team
Join On’s Special Projects Design team, where innovation, performance, and brand storytelling converge. You’ll collaborate with a tight-knit group of designers, CMF specialists, developers, and marketers to bring bold ideas to life. Whether working on limited-edition collaborations, retailer exclusives, or high-visibility launches, your work will push the boundaries of material innovation and design excellence.
The difference is in the detail. So we push boundaries. Mark those marginal gains. All in pursuit of designing ever better looking products. That’s what we do – what’s best today, can be improved tomorrow.
Just by the banks of the Limmat you’ll find our largest global hub in Zürich West – On Labs – where you can hike up 12 floors through our custom-built spiral trail.
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.
We want to set everyone up for success, so here’s the lowdown on how we hire. Our process is a two-way street – bringing you into our culture, while helping us learn how you think.
Our full process can last about eight weeks from application to offer, because we care about getting it right. These steps explain how we usually do things.
Before you get started, feel free to consider if you want to work with us. Strange question? Well, we give people a lot of space to navigate their day-to-day and that style isn't for everyone. We want you to be passionate about what you do and be sure this is the right fit. Because when skills and passion combine – it creates that 'Wow' moment.
Step One
It starts with you...
You'll start by submitting your application to a specific role.We try to keep this step as simple as possible. We do get a lot of applications, but we review them all. We ask that you allow around 14 days for us to come back to you with a response. If you are a good fit to the role, someone will follow up with you within that window. If you didn't receive a reply, or were unsuccessful this time around, we encourage you to look for other possible matches at On.
Step Two
Interview with a recruiter
What ignites your spirit?This is where we’ll start getting to know all about you and what makes you tick – and it’s your first chance to get a feel for our culture.Chatting with a member of our talent team, you’ll learn more about On and how we work. We’ll learn about what motivates you and what you could bring to the team.
Step Three
Interview with a hiring manager
Ready to dig into the details?This second interview will be held with your future manager and will focus on the specifics of the job.Together you’ll delve into your unique skills and experiences and how they could be relevant at On. It's also a time to assess how you might feel working side-by-side. Bring any questions you have about the job, the team or anything else you might like to know – this is an open forum.
Step Four
The Case Study
What's your style?This task will help us understand how you think, face a challenge and give insight into your novel ideas.Designed to give everyone their best shot, your case study is based on something you might typically experience on the job.This is your chance to show us what you’ve got. So express yourself. Be you.
Step Five
The Experience Day
Your first taste of the Oniverse.This is a time to meet some of the people you'll be working closest with.In person or virtually, you'll get a feel for the day-to-day at On and the people who make it happen. You'll chat with a few potential teammates - the conversations will be as equally driven by the role and your experience as by our values.We believe how you do things is just as important as what you do.
Step Six
The Result
Are we a good fit?We’ll get together internally to share our feedback and decide if we’re a match. We know that job searching is a big time investment, so it’s not a decision we take lightly.It’s also time for you to reflect on the experience – are we the right place for you?No matter the outcome, we’ll give you meaningful feedback.
Step One:
It starts with you...
You'll start by submitting your application to a specific role.
We try to keep this step as simple as possible. We do get a lot of applications, but we review them all. We ask that you allow around 14 days for us to come back to you with a response. If you are a good fit to the role, someone will follow up with you within that window. If you didn't receive a reply, or were unsuccessful this time around, we encourage you to look for other possible matches at On.
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