Head of Strategy & Operations, Footwear Product Creation

In short As the Head of Strategy & Operations, you are the architect of Footwear Creation's operating model. You will translate On's 2030 Long Range Plan into executable transformation- driving the strategic initiatives, processes, and systems that enable our team to deliver breakthrough footwear with Swiss-engineered precision. Sitting at the intersection of Development, Engineering, Materials, and Sustainability, you will influence leaders across functions, build organizational excitement for new ways of working, and make decisive calls on initiative prioritization and execution. Your mission: own the LRP initiative portfolio, orchestrate the leadership operating rhythm, and deliver measurable transformation that elevates how we create. Your mission Strategic Leadership & Vision (LRP to Action) Architect the Roadmap: Translate On’s 2030 LRP and annual goals into a multi-year strategic roadmap for Footwear Product Creation Strategic Prioritization: Act as the Creation gatekeeper for the footwear portfolio, ensuring technical breakthroughs are sequenced and resourced for maximum commercial impact. Portfolio Strategy & Operating Rhythm Own seasonal range portfolio planning: capacity modeling, resource allocation, project prioritization Design and manage the Footwear Creation operating rhythm: weekly leadership standups, monthly business reviews, quarterly strategic planning Facilitate high-stakes leadership discussions; Own the agendas, pre-reads, drive decisions and follow-through for all leadership forums Serve as the primary coordination point between Creation and cross-functional partners (Innovation, Sourcing, Brand, Supply Chain) Build portfolio dashboards that give leadership real-time visibility into capacity, progress, risks, and trade-offs. Process Excellence & Transformation Lead strategic initiatives to improve creation velocity: stage-gate optimization, systems integration, capacity planning frameworks Identify and eliminate process inefficiencies; challenge any workflow that doesn't add value Drive adoption of new ways of working through clear metrics, change management, and feedback loops Build a high-accountability, fast-decision culture within the Creation leadership team. Change Management & Adoption Excellence Drive adoption of new initiatives through comprehensive change management: communication strategies, training programs, adoption metrics, feedback mechanisms Build organizational excitement and understanding of the strategic rationale behind transformational changes Navigate politics and complexity to drive decisions and unblock progress Hold partners accountable to commitments- even when they don't report to you Monitor leading indicators of adoption; implement course corrections when resistance or confusion emerges Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement within Footwear Creation. Your Story Experience: 10+ years of leadership in Product Strategy, Program Management, or Footwear Creation, with a proven track record of translating corporate strategy into actionable cross-functional initiatives Operational Rigor: Exceptional executive facilitation skills; you are comfortable holding senior stakeholders accountable and running high-stakes leadership rhythms Influence without authority: You've led initiatives where success required getting leaders who don't report to you to change how they work. You have low self orientation Footwear Acumen: Deep understanding of the end-to-end product creation lifecycle- from innovation and engineering to global manufacturing Data-Driven Mindset: Exceptional analytical and visualization skills; you can turn complex project data into clear insights for executive decision-making Transformation Leader: Experience leading organizational change, including "Future State" org design and the implementation of new operating models Communication: A natural storyteller, capable of inspiring large teams on stage and navigating complex cross-funct…