NIKE, Inc. is seeking a Lead, Material Quality Capability Engineer for Leather and Synthetic Leather. This role will design, develop, and scale quality capability programs across APAC and Footwear, strengthening Tier 2 supplier readiness and execution.
Who You'll Work With
Nike’s Product Integrity organization is building scalable color and material quality capabilities that strengthen Tier 2 supplier readiness before quality issues occur. Reporting to the Director of Color & Materials Manufacturing Quality, you will serve as the material-class subject matter expert for Leather and Synthetic Leather.
You will partner with Supplier Management, Material Development, Manufacturing Engineering, Standards & Governance, Materials Quality Engineering, suppliers, laboratories, and third-party assessment partners to assess, verify, and uplift material quality capability.
What You'll Work On
- Build cross-product engine material quality capability: Develop and maintain a capability strategy and roadmap for Leather and Synthetic Leather across APAC and Footwear.
- Design scalable capability programs, tools, and technical guidance that address regional and material-class needs.
- Translate best-in-class manufacturing practices and Nike quality expectations into capability requirements for Tier 2 suppliers and partners.
- Design programs, assessments, and enablement tools: Create and improve accreditation and audit frameworks, supplier capability assessments, inspection protocols, scoring logic, readiness criteria, training, and documentation.
- Define methods to evaluate quality management systems, technical competency, manufacturing process controls, testing capability, visual inspection practices, data integrity, and continuous-improvement maturity.
- Pilot, validate, refine, and scale programs with stakeholders, suppliers, laboratories, and third-party assessment partners.
- Advance Leather and Synthetic Leather capability: Apply Leather expertise across tanning, finishing, grading (SATRA), surface aesthetics, physical performance, and related process controls.
- Apply Synthetic Leather expertise across polymer systems, coating, lamination, backing construction, finishing, embossing, and related process controls.
- Identify material-class capability gaps and convert them into learning priorities, supplier enablement plans, assessment content, and preventive guidance.
- Strengthen supplier readiness and enablement: Design manufacturing-readiness assessments for suppliers, manufacturing locations, technologies, and material applications.
- Develop and deliver onboarding, calibration, technical training, train-the-trainer materials, and deployment guidance.
- Build deployment playbooks, assessor qualification requirements, and program governance tools.
- Turn quality signals into capability insights: Use assessment results, audit findings, program data, partner feedback, and quality signals to identify systemic capability gaps and emerging material risks.
- Define program data requirements and measures to compare results across suppliers, regions, and product engines.
- Translate insights into program enhancements and recommendations for execution partners.
- Evaluate and scale new material quality approaches: Benchmark external practices and evaluate quality tools and technologies, including digital and AI-enabled material inspection solutions.
What You Bring
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in materials manufacturing, supplier management, product creation, or manufacturing.
- 8+ years of experience in APAC or Footwear manufacturing, quality engineering, product integrity, supplier quality management, or a closely related field is preferred.
- Hands-on experience working directly with suppliers and factory partners.
- Ability to influence cross-functional teams and external manufacturing partners while maintaining quality governance and accountability.
- Strong project management and execution discipline with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Experience using production quality data, dashboards, or analytics to improve visibility, decision-making, and risk mitigation.
- Experience leading supplier quality programs, manufacturing readiness work, or capability deployment across regional or global manufacturing networks.
- Clear communication skills, including escalating risks and driving resolution.
- Ability to travel approximately 10%.
NIKE, Inc. offers a total rewards package, a casual work environment, a diverse and inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional development. NIKE, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.