Head of Accessories Development

Team for Career Site

Apparel & Accessories Product Creation

In short

We are seeking a dynamic Head of Accessories Development to spearhead the creation of our soft and hard accessories division. This pivotal role will focus on crafting, and executing materials and product development strategies, partnering on sourcing initiatives, and fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation within the team. The role demands a leader who can set a compelling vision and strategy while inspiring the team to achieve excellence.

Your mission

– Oversee the project management of the product range from ideation to launch, including development, materials, sampling, testing, calendars and final product specifications.

– Support the conceptualisation and design of innovative accessory products, working closely with the design team, ensuring alignment with On’’s vision and market demand.

– Work closely with On’s product strategy team to understand go-to-market strategies and ensure successful, on time, product launches.

– Conduct comprehensive market research to identify emerging trends, competitive threats, and new market opportunities.

– Develop and execute the strategic vision for accessory materials, aligning it with the overall brand and sourcing strategy.

– Stay at the forefront of material science, emerging technologies, and market trends to identify and oversee the development of innovative materials that meet performance, durability, and sustainability requirements.

– Establish and enforce rigorous material testing and quality control protocols to ensure compliance with industry standards and brand requirements.

– Support our Head of Sourcing based in Vietnam on building a robust global sourcing strategy that emphasizes high quality products and world class partnership and service, ethical sourcing and sustainability.

– Develop and execute the strategic vision for accessory materials, aligning it with the overall brand and sourcing strategy.

– Work closely with quality assurance teams to address any material-related issues, implement corrective actions, and prevent quality deviations.

– Evaluate and select suppliers based on their ability to innovate, meet sustainability and quality standards, cost objectives, and ethical practices.

– Implement supply chain initiatives, in partnership with our ESG team, that reduce environmental impact, such as using recycled and preferred materials, advanced water treatment and color dyeing technologies and optimizing logistics with initiatives like localisation.

– Recruit, train, and mentor a team of developers, engineers, and materials specialists.

– Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment that encourages creativity and risk-taking.

– Set clear performance standards and develop talent through regular feedback and professional development opportunities.

– Cultivate a high-performing team culture through empathetic leadership and effective communication.

– Champion the integration of new technologies and materials into product design to enhance functionality and sustainability.

– Spearhead and streamline product development and manufacturing processes to increase efficiency, reduce complexity and time to market.

– Develop strategies and engineer solutions that will instigate new ways of thinking about products.

– Encourage a culture of continuous improvement by regularly reviewing and refining processes.

– Foster a culture of innovation, encouraging the team to embrace calculated risks.

– Collaborate with product strategy to monitor and analyze sales data. Use this to understand product performance and market fit and make informed decisions on future product ranges.

– Ensure that all departments are informed of product development timelines and changes to ensure cohesive brand messaging and sales strategies.

– Work with the internal On quality team to gather customer feedback and incorporate it into future product designs in collaboration with sourcing and factories.

– Demonstrate collaborative leadership to align interdepartmental goals and strategies.

– Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, providing continuous feedback on how to elevate business partnership.

– Engage with industry stakeholders, including athletes and sports professionals, to gain insights for the accessory lines.

– Represent the company at trade shows, conferences, and other industry events to network and build brand presence.

Your story

– Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in soft and hard accessories development, with at least 7 years in a leadership role.

– Extensive and comprehensive knowledge of the sports accessories market, including an understanding of current trends, customer preferences, and competitive dynamics.

– Demonstrated ability to identify and capitalize on market opportunities to drive growth and innovation within the accessories category.

– Have international experience working in both brand and sourcing or production

– Proven track record of successful team leadership and the ability to inspire and motivate a diverse group of professionals.

– Experience in talent acquisition and development, with a focus on building and retaining high-performing teams.

– Exhibits leadership traits such as decisiveness, accountability, and the ability to influence.

– Proven leadership behaviors, including setting clear goals, providing feedback, and recognizing achievements.

– Strong leadership in communication, ensuring transparency and open dialogue.

– A strong commitment to sustainability and a history of implementing sustainability initiatives in product development and sourcing.

– Familiarity with global supply chain management, including experience working with international, high quality suppliers.

– Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines.

– Experience in optimizing operational processes to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance product quality.

– Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to clearly articulate ideas and strategies to a variety of stakeholders.

– A collaborative mindset with a history of successful partnerships across different departments and external partners.

– Lead the direction of product creation and mentor future leaders within the business.

– A history that demonstrates a passion for innovative product design with a keen eye for aesthetics that align with our brand values.

– Proficiency in performance, function and user-centered design principles to create products that meet the needs of consumers.

– Strong business acumen with the ability to align product strategies with broader business objectives.

– Strategic vision to steer the accessories division towards long-term growth and market leadership in key areas.

– Familiarity with the latest creation software and technologies relevant to accessory design, development and production.

– Understanding of materials science and its application in the development of new and sustainable accessory products.

Meet the team

We’re responsible for creating innovative accessories for On. You will join a newly established team within the R&D function. We have a lot of responsibility to try and meet the needs and demands of runners, so we research, design, develop and test lots of ideas scientifically.