Director, Training & NSW Innovation Footwear Product Design

Nike•Beaverton, OR

About The Position

We're looking for a Design Director Footwear Innovation to join the team at Nike. The Design Director Footwear innovation has a passion for Footwear design, working in and leading a team, and a Passion to create the Future of Sport. WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH You will collaborate and mentor within the Innovation design team (industrial designers, materials, color, computational, etc.), and work hand in hand with a project team of different professionals (product managers, developers, researchers, marketing, engineers, etc.). This role reports directly the VP Innovation Footwear Design. You will manage a team of 2 product designers, collaborate with Materials, Digital designers, Color designers and build and direct larger projects teams. WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR As our 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. We value strong problem solving in providing athletes with measurable benefits in performance that are matched with breathtaking iconic designs. You will research the Athlete and ideate on future solutions for Performance footwear. 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. They bring a sharp eye for detail, proportion, materiality, and execution, consistently delivering elevated design solutions. Through strong creative leadership, they will develop compelling products that resonate with Nikes consumer. With a deep understanding of Sport, cultural relevance, consumer insights, and emerging trends, this individual will continually challenge industry conventions and set a high standard for creativity, desirability, and Innovative thinking. WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON In Nike Innovation, you will work as the leader of a team that designs and pushes the possibilities of the human potential through footwear (and beyond). We expect you to lead and explore new opportunities, take risks, and change the game! In your day to day, you will engage with project teammates on researching, gaining insights, problem solving around performance and manufacturing, working with athletes, and crafting a vast range of creative and appealing solutions, that are also sustainable and considerate of cost. As a leader you will help your team to also participate and present the work in informal and formal reviews. As a design leader designer with deep knowledge and experience in footwear, you will be seen as a team leader and mentor for other designers.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, a related field or equivalent combination of education, experience or training
8 years’ experience designing and developing innovative footwear and other products
Knowledge of form, color, materials, 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 is a plus
Strong Photoshop, Illustrator skills
Must be able to build accurate 2D technical drawings (tech packs) and have the knowledge to direct/coach the team to build them
Solid knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials
Experienced with presentation programs: Keynote, PowerPoint, Acrobat, etc.
Positive personality and energy
Ability and passion to lead, mentor and onboard Design teammates
Contribute and align to shared team culture and behaviors
Catalyst to make connections with other Design groups
Motivated and hardworking about bringing others along
Extraordinary teammate, and humble leader
Collaborator with a skill in connecting the dots
Speaks up with courage for self and the team
Open minded, good listener, receptive to candid feedback and diverse points of view

Nice To Haves

Cobbling and prototyping skills are a plus
3D design programs experience is a plus
Knowledge and experience with sustainable design and manufacturing are a plus

Responsibilities

Manage a team of 2 product designers
Collaborate with Materials, Digital designers, Color designers
Build and direct larger projects teams
Direct the creation of industry-leading footwear and innovations
Bring bold concepts to life
Solve complex design challenges
Create iconic products that inspire through both function and form
Provide athletes with measurable benefits in performance
Research the Athlete and ideate on future solutions for Performance footwear
Develop compelling products that resonate with Nike's consumer
Challenge industry conventions and set a high standard for creativity, desirability, and Innovative thinking
Lead and explore new opportunities
Take risks, and change the game
Engage with project teammates on researching, gaining insights, problem solving around performance and manufacturing
Work with athletes
Craft a vast range of creative and appealing solutions, that are also sustainable and considerate of cost
Help your team to also participate and present the work in informal and formal reviews
Be seen as a team leader and mentor for other designers
Lead + drive partnerships beyond the Design function (Marketing, Engineering, Development, etc.)