On - Senior Specialist – Lab Standards - Zürich

Team for Career Site

Footwear Product Creation

In short

You will work in a fast-paced environment that offers autonomy and opportunities for growth. As part of the Footwear Lab Testing team, your role will be to help ensure that On’s products meet global standards and the high expectations of consumers of a premium sportswear brand. You will be a member of the Lab Testing team and will report to the Lead – Lab Testing

In this role, you will be responsible for continuously developing and improving On’s lab testing frameworks, through research and benchmarking, creating and maintaining a framework that allows our labs to deliver reliable insights that support innovation, development, and production. You will play a key role in translating ideas into validated, trusted products.

Please Read Before Applying:
To ensure a smooth and efficient recruitment process, we kindly ask all applicants to submit their CV in English, as this is the working language of our company.

Your mission

Build a testing framework for excellence: Collaborate with the Innovation and development team, Lab Lead, and external partners. Research new methods, machinery, and suppliers; translate concepts into structured test plans; and align testing capacity in the Zurich Lab.

Validate product and technology claims: Execute robust test methods to substantiate product and technology claims. Develop testing plans, manage resources, and communicate timelines, constraints, and expectations clearly to stakeholders.

Execute lab testing with excellence: Manage end-to-end lab testing across Innovation and Development. Receive and prepare samples, conduct testing, analyse results, and deliver clear, actionable reports.

Ensure operational excellence in the lab: Collaborate with the Zurich Lab team to maintain equipment and facilities, ensuring all machines are clean, calibrated, and ready for use. Promote a culture of reliability, organisation, and continuous improvement.

Build global knowledge and capability: Share expertise across global lab, development, sourcing, and T1 teams through training, mentorship, and knowledge transfer. Partner with external experts and third-party labs to stay current on industry best practices and communicate new requirements internally.

Leverage external experts, international business groups and 3rd party labs to stay up-to-date with industry best practices and developments and communicate new requirements to the team

Your story

Technical expertise: Strong Footwear background in material and product testing, with hands-on experience in lab execution and a track record of translating complex data into actionable insights.

Cross-functional collaboration: Comfortable working closely with innovation, development, and sourcing teams in fast-paced environments.

Lab operations & process development: Able to maintain and calibrate lab equipment while also improving testing frameworks and processes.

Capability building: Experienced in mentoring, training, and sharing knowledge to grow technical expertise across global teams.

Experience & qualifications: 6–7 years in lab testing or related roles. Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) in a relevant field required.

Skills & attributes: Detail-oriented, organised, proactive, and able to work independently. Strong verbal and written communication skills at all organisational levels.

Additional requirements: Fluent in English, adaptable, and open to occasional travel.

Meet the team

You’ll be part of the Zurich Lab team, collaborating closely with Innovation, Development, Sourcing, and global lab partners. Together, you’ll define the standards, methods, and testing culture that ensure the Brand stands up to its’ promise.