Director of Product Testing

About the role

On is looking for a visionary Director of Product Testing to transform its laboratory into a world‑class hub that blends objective durability testing with subjective, consumer‑centric validation. This senior leadership position will embed the athlete’s voice and consumer psychology into every stage of product development, ensuring that each On product lives up to its promise of Swiss Engineering.

Key responsibilities

• Define and execute a forward‑thinking testing strategy that prioritises consumer‑focused feedback, comfort, fit and the feeling of speed.
• Lead, mentor and upskill a global team of technical testing experts, fostering a culture of trust, stability and high performance.
• Design and implement novel testing frameworks such as dynamic focus groups, A/B testing protocols and sensory analysis methods.
• Align and harmonise geographically distributed testing functions, including durability teams in Asia and consumer‑centric teams in Zurich.
• Collaborate closely with Product Development, Design, Quality Engineering and Strategy to integrate testing insights early in the design process.
• Champion new technologies, including AI and automation, to streamline processes and free resources for human‑centric testing.
• Synthesize quantitative and qualitative data into actionable insights for product teams.

Required profile

• Proven senior leadership experience in product testing, validation or related R&D environments.
• Strong understanding of consumer psychology, sensory analysis and athlete‑centric product development.
• Excellent communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Track record of building high‑performing, globally distributed teams.

Required skills