Design responsibility from concept to construction
The Business of Fashion Careers listing describes a role with responsibility for several projects at once, but no direct reports. The manager will report to the Senior Lead - Retail Design Manager, AMER, handling store layouts and technical design work from the first spatial concepts through completed construction.
The work involves adapting On's global design standards and brand identity to local properties. Design submissions will bring together zoning plans, 3D renderings, material samples and references drawn from the local setting, along with presentations for leadership approval. The manager will also check outside architects' drawings against approved concepts, landlord requirements and regional building codes.
On's California stores illustrate its approach to local design. The four locations announced July 30, 2026, draw on different surroundings: Golden Gate Bridge colors at Chestnut Street in San Francisco; coastal redwoods and trails in Corte Madera; sand-colored coastal finishes at San Diego's Westfield UTC; and brutalist-inspired curved walls at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles. The stores range from 2,800 to 4,000 square feet and have roughly 20 to 30 team members each, according to On's Pressroom.
For the advertised role, coordination spans Construction, Visual Experience, Retail Operations and IT, as well as franchise partners, local architects, outside design firms and contractors. The manager must track design milestones, identify technical problems and resolve layout trade-offs while keeping store openings on schedule.
The position sits within Real Estate Development, which is part of On's Finance team. Its remit extends beyond retail stores to partner locations, offices and other facilities worldwide. The Americas team adapts global standards to regional settings.
A growing retail network
The recruitment comes alongside On's plans to expand its store network. At its September 22, 2026, Investor Day, the company said its own retail business was profitable in its own right. It outlined plans to roughly double the network, adding 100 stores by 2029 in major city centers around the world.
An earlier snapshot from Americas general manager Dan Schade put the portfolio at 70 stores worldwide, including 15 in the United States, as of May 2026. Speaking to WWD, he said On planned to reach approximately 100 stores by the end of 2026 and described the strategy as a "premium growth era."
WWD also reported that On's direct-to-consumer net sales reached 322.3 million Swiss francs in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, an increase of 28.7 percent at constant currency and 38.7 percent of total sales. Americas net sales set a quarterly record of 450.7 million Swiss francs, rising 17.1 percent year over year at constant currency.
Outside the Americas, On has worked since 2024 with Mizzen, part of Seddiqi Holding, as its representative in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Jordan. Following its first United Arab Emirates store opening in Dubai in July 2026, On said it planned another nine retail locations across the GCC over the next two years, according to its Pressroom.
Experience and technical requirements
On is seeking at least six years of architectural or premium retail design experience, with a focus on customer-facing spaces across different store formats. Applicants should be proficient in 2D and 3D design tools such as AutoCAD, SketchUp and Adobe Creative Suite, using them to develop accurate layouts, visualizations and construction details.
The listing calls for knowledge of construction detailing and fixture development, along with the ability to carry a creative concept into a finished physical space. Candidates also need to work effectively when local project requirements change or the next steps are not clearly defined.
Relationship-building is another requirement: the manager will need to align outside partners, franchise operators and colleagues across internal teams on design deliverables. Travel within the region may account for up to 15% of the role, covering site visits, design execution audits and support at project milestones.
Pay and hiring conditions
The $130,000 to $160,000 range covers base salary plus bonus, rather than base salary alone. On says individual compensation depends on experience, industry knowledge, qualifications, skills and location.
On identifies itself as an equal opportunity employer and says recruitment, advancement and retention decisions are to be free of discrimination. A start date depends on successful completion of a background check.
