Global Senior Director of Brand Apparel Marketing
On Running · Zürich
At a Glance
You are the Senior Director of Apparel Marketing, reporting directly into the CMO. Your mission is to be the direct brand partner to the Creative Director of apparel, inspire teams across On, champion our culture, and be recognized as a guardian of the Apparel brand portfolio and strategic direction, ensuring all Marketing efforts in Apparel align with the main On priorities, influenced by the external global landscape.
- Work Focus: You will define and lead the function-wide brand strategy for Apparel, overseeing multiple complex and strategic initiatives with a core focus on Apparel. This role demands enterprise-level strategic expertise and has a critical, systemic impact throughout On.
- Decision-making: You are experienced at driving high-level decisions, acting as the decision maker for the Apparel Brand Management function and playing a key role in executive decision-making.
- Scope: Projects and initiatives under your direction have a strategic impact on On’s entire portfolio and long-term direction. You collaborate with the C-suite, senior leadership and are a key stakeholder to the Management Team.
- Autonomy: You own the Apparel Brand Management discipline globally, defining operating models and priorities. You are responsible for simplifying complex organizational situations and prioritizing critical work across the enterprise. You play a key role in ensuring synergies across all product categories, marketing channels, and regions.
Your Mission
Your core mission is to elevate the global On brand by architecting the structure, defining the strategy, and leading the talent required to execute our brand promise across all categories.
Set the Enterprise Brand Vision & Governance
- Define the long-term, multi-year architecture for the Apparel Brand Management function, dictating how all category brand leads (including the Head of Brand, Apparel) approach their business to ensure a unified global brand identity.
- Align and secure buy-in from the C-suite and all regional Managing Directors on the overarching brand strategy and resource allocation across major product verticals.
- Simplify and prioritize the complex portfolio of brand initiatives to focus resources on the highest-value opportunities for On’s sustainable growth.
Drive Organizational and Talent Excellence
- Serve as the senior organizational leader who coaches, mentors, and directs the Apparel Brand team to raise the bar on strategic thinking and execution quality. You will also influence and drive
- Architect the global operating model for Apparel Brand management, ensuring clear roles, responsibilities, and decision-making rights between product, marketing, and commercial teams globally.
- Act as the primary interface between the Apparel Brand function and Executive Leadership, communicating the brand strategy, performance, and talent needs.
Measure for Systemic Evolution
- Establish and mandate the key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics (e.g., brand health, cultural relevance, portfolio value) used across all apparel categories and regions to measure brand success.
- Drive a culture of measurement that informs strategic shifts in product investment, market entry, and commercial priorities at the executive level.
Your Story
You are a recognized executive leader with a track record of driving change and growth at a global scale. You possess the intellectual curiosity and gravitas necessary to challenge the status quo at the highest levels of the organization while fostering a culture of high performance and psychological safety within your team.
You see yourself as an enterprise-level strategist, capable of navigating ambiguity and complexity to deliver simple, high-impact organizational solutions. You are a Culture and Talent Catalyst who inspires senior leaders and develops the next generation of leadership.
We’d love to hear from people with:
- 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in global brand management, brand strategy, or equivalent roles within premium sportswear, fashion, or consumer industries.
- A minimum of 8+ years in a senior managerial role, managing a team of Director-level or equivalent leaders and overseeing a complex, multi-category brand portfolio.
- Demonstrated ability to architect long-term strategic plans (5-year horizon) and successfully align C-suite, regional presidents, and cross-functional SVP/EVP leadership teams.
- Executive-level presence and exceptional presentation skills; comfortable presenting strategy, performance, and organizational recommendations in front of large internal and external audiences.
- A high level of intellectual curiosity and a strategic mind balanced with the ability to define simple, executable frameworks for global teams.
What We Offer
- A challenging role that puts you at the forefront of On's global expansion and brand architecture, offering unparalleled influence on the company's long-term success.
- A fair and balanced internal recruiting process with an opportunity to learn about other teams, roles, and challenges.
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.