Lead - Apparel & Accessories Testing @ On AG

In short- Product Testing is the voice of the athlete and the consumer at On. We ensure every product delivers a premium, high-performance experience by combining scientific rigor with real-world insight.- As Apparel and Accessories Testing Lead, you will be responsible for validating products from development through to market, focusing on specialized, high performance sport categories. You’ll work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and act as a key partner across Design, Development, Materials, and Strategy to ensure excellence in the wearing experience including comfort, quality, and performance.

• Your Mission- Command the Validation Strategy: Define and execute rigorous testing strategies across quality, comfort, and performance, taking charge of specialized testing programs.
• You will identify testing requirements based on product briefs and target consumers, confidently owning the end-to-end testing process.- Uncover the Truth in Data: Lead qualitative and quantitative apparel and accessories testing, perception studies, and real-world validation to ensure our products reflect authentic athlete and consumer needs.
• Integrate consumer insights, scientific expertise, and performance analysis into standardized, evidence-based product evaluations.- Drive Confident Decisions: Translate complex testing results into powerful insights that enable confident decision-making and elevate product excellence across the organization.
• You will analyze performance and durability data, including behavior and attitudinal insights, developing clear reports for project stakeholders.- Influence Product Creation: Conduct hands-on performance testing, directly presenting key findings and improvement recommendations to stakeholders.- Deliver benchmarking and competitor insights to spot opportunities for true innovation and product differentiation.- Build the Testing Ecosystem: Establish highly efficient testing processes, timelines, and feedback loops aligned seamlessly with Product Creation calendars.
• You will actively build and maintain a dynamic tester network of agile, high-performance athletes that supports both everyday testing needs and urgent project timelines.
• Set up high-energy testing events and initiatives to drive deep engagement within the testing community.- Elevate Operations: Work seamlessly with testing systems and databases to ensure accurate, high-quality data and optimized reporting flows.
• As a leader, you will contribute significantly to team goals, process improvements, and the continuous evolution of our testing methodologies.
• Your Story- A strategic thinker with prior leadership experience and a coaching mindset, skilled at facilitating team development and maintaining high engagement in fast-paced or demanding environments.- A proven track record of managing complex projects or product validation cycles from concept to market.
• Deep expertise in high-performance sports apparel and accessories, with a strong preference for candidates with experience in the Outdoor, Teamsport or Running categories.- You know how to balance scientific testing rigor with real-world, human-centric feedback.
• You are an exceptional communicator who can translate dense data and testing metrics into clear, actionable recommendations to cross-functional teams
• You are highly organized and capable of building out robust tester networks, establishing efficient processes, and managing global testing logistics.- You have 7+ years of experience in a field focused on the human experience with a product or service.- We are excited to hear from candidates from backgrounds, including but not limited to: Apparel Product Testing or Development User Experience Research (UXR) Biomechanics or Kinesiolog- You are willing to travel to conduct testing every 1-2 months within Europe and globally. You have the flexibility to work outside of typical hours to align with athlete schedules.
• Demonstrated experience conducting product testing directly with athletes, with a proven ability to translate Athlete feedback into actionable insights that drive apparel and accessories creation.
• You bring commercial sports brand experience in apparel and accessories testing, coupled with the cross-functional expertise needed to partner effectively with Design, Development, and Materials teams.
• Language: A clear communicator in English, both verbal and written.

Proficiency or fluency in Italian is an advantage.

Your TeamYou'll be a leader in a global team fueled by a culture of relentless discovery. We test and validate our product promises, transforming athlete feedback and scientific data into market-leading performance. While our creation partners work to make products great, our mission is to prove they're great. Based in Zurich, our team of Footwear, Apparel & Accessories, and Lab experts is the ultimate destination for individuals dedicated to enhancing the consumer experience.