Design Director Footwear Innovation

NIKE, Inc. is looking for a Design Director Footwear Innovation to join its Innovation design team. This leader will create the future of sport through footwear design, manage a team of product designers, and collaborate with partners across the organization.

Who you'll work with

You will collaborate with and mentor the Innovation design team, including industrial designers, materials, color, and computational designers. You will also work with product managers, developers, researchers, marketing professionals, engineers, and other project teammates. This role reports directly to the VP of Innovation Footwear Design.

You will manage a team of two product designers, collaborate with Materials, Digital Design, and Color Design, and build and direct larger project teams.

Who we are looking for

As Design Director Footwear Innovation, you will direct the creation of industry-leading footwear and innovations, bringing bold concepts to life. You will solve complex design challenges and create iconic products that inspire through both function and form.

The ideal candidate is a visionary designer with experience designing performance footwear, exceptional taste, a refined aesthetic point of view, and an unwavering commitment to craft. You will research athletes and ideate future solutions for performance footwear while developing products that resonate with Nike consumers.

What you'll work on

• Lead a team that designs and pushes the possibilities of human potential through footwear and beyond.
• Research athletes, gain insights, and solve problems related to performance and manufacturing.
• Work with athletes and craft creative, appealing, sustainable, and cost-conscious solutions.
• Lead, mentor, and onboard design teammates.
• Participate in and present work during informal and formal reviews.
• Build partnerships beyond Design, including Marketing, Engineering, and Development.
• Explore new opportunities, take risks, and challenge industry conventions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, experience, or training.
• Eight years of experience designing and developing innovative footwear and other products.
• Knowledge of form, color, materials, and human factors related to elevating the consumer experience.
• Ability to translate consumer knowledge and insights into product solutions and narratives.
• Experience in technical footwear design; performance footwear experience is a plus.
• Strong Photoshop and Illustrator skills.
• Ability to build accurate 2D technical drawings and tech packs, and direct or coach a team in building them.
• Strong sketching, illustration, and rendering skills.
• Solid knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials.
• Experience with presentation programs such as Keynote, PowerPoint, and Acrobat.
• Cobbling, prototyping, 3D design programs, and sustainable design and manufacturing experience are a plus.
• Ability and passion to lead, mentor, and onboard design teammates.
• Positive personality, collaborative approach, courage, openness to feedback, and a humble leadership style.

Accessibility and inclusion

Nike offers accommodations throughout the interview process, including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible interview locations, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications. NIKE, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.