Senior Lead - Footwear Testing

Product Testing is the voice of the athlete and the consumer at On. The function ensures every On product meets the highest quality standards and delivers a premium, high-performance experience by combining scientific rigor with real-world insight, with only products that truly perform reaching market. The role validates footwear products from development through to market and drives excellence while leading the team in the Running category.

• Lead a high-performing team of Specialists, fostering a culture of growth and exploration while elevating existing, successful workflows.
• Serve as a senior point of contact for internal stakeholders in the Run category, providing guidance and alignment on testing projects.
• Collaborate closely with key stakeholders to identify testing requirements based on product briefs and target consumers, owning end-to-end processes for assigned projects.
• Define and execute rigorous testing strategies across durability, fit, comfort, and performance, taking charge of high-complexity testing programmes.
• Lead qualitative and quantitative footwear testing, perception studies, and real-world validation to ensure products reflect authentic athlete and consumer needs.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships to integrate consumer insights, scientific expertise, and performance analysis into standardised, evidence-based product evaluations.
• Translate complex testing data into powerful insights and clear reports that enable confident decision-making and elevate product excellence across the organisation.
• Ensure testing timelines are efficient and seamlessly integrated into fast-moving Product Creation calendars.
• Expand and cultivate a diverse tester network to support project timelines and enhance community engagement.
• Work seamlessly with testing systems and databases to ensure accurate and high-quality data integrity.
• Contribute significantly to team goals and process improvements as a leader.

• 8+ years of experience in footwear testing or a closely related role within the footwear industry.
• A strong passion for run culture and performance running footwear.
• Proven leadership experience, with a passion for building high-performance teams.
• Ability to influence cross-functional team effectiveness through partnership and advisory.
• Excellent communication skills and confidence in working with cross-functional stakeholders.
• A detail-oriented, creative, and solutions-focused mindset.
• Flexibility to work outside standard hours when necessary.
• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint, and capability to adapt to internal databases.
• Expertise in analysis with complex data and analysis methods.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken).

• An environment designed to support holistic development, including opportunities to stay active, learn, explore, and innovate.
• A supportive, team-oriented atmosphere.
• Access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being.