In Short 

Welcome to On! As one of the world’s fastest-growing premium sportswear brands, On is redefining performance across footwear, apparel, and accessories through innovative technology, bold design, and a commitment to sustainability. Having already inspired millions of runners—and those who move in different ways—around the world, we are now looking for a Community & Brand Activation Specialist (Africa) to help build and shape On’s presence across the continent, starting with Kenya and South Africa.

You will lead the planning and execution of locally relevant brand initiatives that connect with communities, athletes, retailers, and distribution partners. From supporting grassroots running groups and emerging athletes to strengthening commercial partnerships, you will help define how On shows up in key running hubs across the continent. Working closely with teams across EMEA and global functions—particularly Commercial and Brand Experience—you’ll balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution in a fast-moving, collaborative environment.

Your Mission

• You will connect and ignite the brand with run crews, clubs and groups - creating relationships as an authentic part of their communities.
• You will build and manage the ambassador program, owning the ambassador activation calendar and driving community outreach.
• You will build strong cross-functional connections between On and our retail and distributor partners to drive brand awareness and loyalty with running groups, ambassadors, and other community leaders.
• You will plan and deliver impactful 360° brand experiences, ensuring everything is customer-centric and focused on future growth.
• You will conduct regular market research to understand the needs, challenges, and trends within local running communities and adapt community initiatives accordingly.
• You will gather feedback from community members to identify opportunities for new programs, partnerships, and brand engagement.
• You will monitor community growth, engagement metrics, and event attendance to evaluate program success and report insights to the global team.

Your Story

• Typically we look for 3–5 years’ experience in community building, brand activation, or partnerships within sportswear, running, outdoor, or a related consumer-facing industry, with clear examples of communities or programs you’ve grown
• You must have a genuine connection to the local running or movement scenes—you know the crews, clubs, races, and key players shaping the culture in markets like Kenya or South Africa and other key markets across the continent
• Proven ability to plan and deliver activations end-to-end (events, run crews, ambassador programs), managing budgets, timelines, and multiple partners.
• Experience working with retailers, distributors, or grassroots communities, building partnerships that drive participation, visibility, and brand loyalty.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, confident collaborating across global teams and local networks to deliver impactful, 360° initiatives.
• Data-informed mindset, with experience tracking metrics like attendance, engagement, and community growth to improve performance.
• A hands-on, adaptable approach—comfortable working in fast-moving environments and making things happen on the ground.You thrive in collaborative environments, understanding that teamwork drives greater achievements.
• You are happy to step out of your comfort zone, embrace new challenges, and are eager to learn new skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage authentically across diverse communities.
• Fluent in English as this is our shared professional language at On, with excellent written and spoken communication skills. Swahili is a strong advantage!
• Open to frequent travel (~40%) and excited to be present where the community is.
• You embody On’s spirit: curious, collaborative, and driven by a passion for movement.

About The Team 

The Africa team at On is newly established and dedicated to building and shaping the brand across emerging markets on the continent. We play a critical role in defining how On’s performance-driven identity is brought to life throughout Africa. As a diverse and highly collaborative team, we work closely with colleagues across Europe, the Middle East, and our global functions to ensure the successful planning and execution of brand initiatives. We are moving fast, building from the ground up, and defining our path as we go. We are not following a playbook—we are creating it.