Chief R&D and Sourcing Officer (SVP)

In short

As our Chief R&D and Sourcing Officer (SVP) based in Zurich, Switzerland, you will lead a diverse, high-performing global organization, driving process optimization and system improvements across innovation, product creation (materials, engineering, development, testing), product operations, and our sourcing teams. This team of 350+ passionate and dedicated team members is the engine that powers our ambition to become the world’s most premium sportswear brand. You will work as a strategic yet hands-on leader, alongside the Chief Design Officer and Chief Product Officer, to bring cutting-edge products to market, while optimizing processes, fostering innovation, and ensuring operational excellence across all functions.In this pivotal role, you will inspire and mentor a talented, cross-functional team, setting new benchmarks for collaboration, innovation, and scalability. With deep expertise in leading complex R&D organizations and global sourcing operations, you will ensure that our product pipeline—from concept through to production—is both agile and world-class. This role will require you to zoom in and out balancing impacting the now by being hands on with impacting the company’s trajectory leveraging your strategic and visionary thinking.

Your Mission

• Lead, grow and enable the global R&D and sourcing organization, ensuring seamless collaboration across product innovation, product creation, operations, and sourcing teams
• Embed a culture of operational excellence and process-driven innovation.
• Establish best practices and systems that enhance productivity, reduce time to market, and ensure quality and compliance across all teams.
• Partner closely with product strategy and design teams to ensure all product initiatives are aligned with our vision of becoming the most premium sportswear brand globally
• Build and scale a high-performance team that thrives on cross-functional collaboration and operational excellence, while fostering an environment of inclusivity, development, and accountability
• Foster leadership at every level, with a clear focus on developing and nurturing the next level of leadership within the organization. Mentor, coach, and empower emerging leaders to ensure a robust succession pipeline that sustains long-term success
• Ensure that all sourcing strategies are aligned with our product goals, driving efficiency, reliability, and innovation from suppliers and partners
• Implement and scale robust systems that foster collaboration across global teams and streamline processes across product creation and sourcing.
• Stay ahead of industry trends and technological advancements to maintain our competitive edge in R&D and sourcing