Lead - Global Retail Design Project Manager

At a Glance

The On retail fleet is expanding, has big ambitions, and we’re looking for a confident Retail Design Project Manager Lead to help us take Retail to the next level.

The Retail Design Project Manager will oversee the complete lifecycle of key Global Retail Design Concepts projects and strategic initiatives for both Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) and B2B stores. This role ensures high-quality results that align with brand standards and strategic objectives. The Project Manager will collaborate with a range of internal teams - including Visual Merchandising, Retail Operations, Marketing & Campaigns, Real Estate, and Finance - as well as external vendors such as construction, material suppliers, and manufacturers, to drive initiatives from conception to completion.

The role sits in the Creative Operations team within Global Retail Design and reports to the Senior Lead Program Manager, Global Retail Design. The role will work in close collaboration with the Head of Retail Design and leads across the team and wider organization.

This isn't just about tracking timelines; it’s about navigating a fast-paced, evolving organization to land high-stakes global concepts. You will be the bridge between visionary design and operational reality, requiring the influential skills to manage senior leadership and the grit to execute the administrative 'nuts and bolts' yourself.

Your Team

At On we stimulate creativity and innovation and foster On spirit within everything we do. You will be part of our dynamic Global Retail Design team responsible for multiple cross-functional projects from market analysis and retail strategy to concepts and supporting the teams developing & executing, fit-outs ranging from Showrooms, Shop-in-Shops to large flagship stores.

Working with key stakeholders within Retail, Marketing and Visual Merchandising towards creating an identical consumer experience across all retail touchpoints.

Your Mission

• Lead and deliver multiple concurrent retail design concept projects from inception to completion, independently navigating a complex global organization to ensure timely, on-scope results.

• Serve as the strategic partner for senior leadership, providing absolute project clarity through high-level communication flows, proactive risk mitigation, and clear dependency management.

• Drive cross-functional alignment between Strategy, Creative, and Agency partners, translating high-level visionary briefs into executable retail realities.

• Own the end-to-end financial and administrative lifecycle, from budget tracking to the granular execution of PO creation and vendor onboarding.

• Build the roadmap within creative workflows, creating sophisticated project plans and schedules in Jira that prioritize automation and minimize administrative friction for the wider team.

• Navigate the "Last Mile" of delivery, collaborating closely with Legal, Procurement, and Real Estate to establish vendor agreements and ensure operational readiness.

• Oversee Pilot Execution and Global Rollouts: Act as the operational lead for pilot installations and global concept executions, partnering with Construction and external contractors to manage on-site implementation, troubleshoot build-phase complexities, and ensure the final physical delivery aligns perfectly with design intent.

• Champion process improvement and strategic problem-solving, identifying bottlenecks before they impact the timeline and optimizing workflows for future scalability.

• Facilitate rigorous design reviews and feedback loops, ensuring every touchpoint maintains our premium brand standards and strategic objectives.

• Track timelines and conduct post-project evaluations, ensuring that reporting, key learnings, and optimizations are effectively implemented across the global fleet.

• Coordinate diverse internal teams - including Retail Marketing, Visual Merchandising, Retail Ops, and regional teams - to create a seamless, identical consumer experience across all touchpoints.

Your Story

• 8+ years of experience, with a proven track record of leading high-pressure global initiatives in rapidly scaling environments.

• Executive Presence: Exceptional ability to distill complex project risks into concise, actionable briefings for senior leadership and C-suite stakeholders.

• Cross-functional Influence: Demonstrated ability to drive alignment across departments (Legal, Marketing, Procurement, Real Estate) without direct authority.

• Ownership & Grit: A mindset that thrives in 'creative chaos.' You are comfortable building the plane while flying it and don't wait for a roadmap to take action.

• Full-Cycle Delivery: Proven ability to deliver large-scale projects on time and within budget, with the discipline to personally manage the administrative "last mile" (PO creation, vendor onboarding, etc.).

• Technical Proficiency: Highly proficient in project management tools (Jira preferred), with a focus on automation and creating efficient workflows.

• Communication & Presentation: Ability to create clear and compelling presentations that effectively convey project status and strategic progress to diverse audiences.

• Industry Context: An understanding of sportswear or premium fashion brands in retail teams is highly welcomed; experience in DTC and B2B retail is a plus.

• Sector Knowledge: Experience in architecture, retail design, or construction is a plus, but your core strength is in business operations and project delivery.

What we offer

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.