Job Details

Product Designer Specialized 5 (P5 Expert Designer)

Employment Type: Contractor (Hybrid) Location: Beaverton, OR 97005 Work Model: Hybrid | Friday Remote

Expert Product Designer (Specialized 5)

To support the Olympics Footwear Design team. This role is responsible for delivering premium, innovation-driven footwear designs while collaborating closely with cross-functional partners throughout the product creation lifecycle. The ideal candidate is a senior-level footwear designer with strong industrial design expertise, proven project ownership, and the ability to navigate complex design and manufacturing processes independently.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver product vision and execute seasonal footwear projects aligned with creative direction and project briefs.
• Create and set design direction for a product collection, silo, or dimension.
• Lead design from concept through presentation and manufacturing.
• Communicate and present design concepts to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure timely delivery by clearly communicating design changes and milestones.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Development, Innovation, Manufacturing, Product Merchandising, and Operations.
• Actively participate in creative reviews and cross-functional decision-making.
• Provide mentorship and creative leadership support to other designers as needed.

Top 3 Non-Negotiable Skills

• Footwear Industrial Design (Expert Level): Deep expertise in footwear design, innovation, and materials within a corporate footwear environment.
• Communication Excellence: Ability to work across multiple cross-functional partners and keep leadership informed of progress.
• Project Management & Autonomy: Self-starter with strong understanding of footwear design and product creation processes; able to manage complexity independently.

Required & Preferred Qualifications

• Experience:
  • 10+ years preferred (minimum 8+ years of relevant footwear design experience)
  • Must come from a comparable corporate footwear design environment (e.g., Adidas, New Balance, etc.)
  • Previous Nike experience is not required

Functional & Technical Skills

• Expert-level footwear design skills from brief through manufacturing.
• Strong digital design proficiency (Adobe Creative Suite required).
• Preferred experience with advanced digital tools and 3D design workflows.
• Deep understanding of make, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Strong presentation and storytelling skills.
• Mastery of creative process, business context, and consumer insights.
• Ability to balance innovation, performance, sustainability, and brand purpose.

Key Cross-Functional Partners

• Athletes
• Design Triad
• Development
• Innovation
• Manufacturing
• Product Merchandising
• Operations
• Sustainability & Purpose Teams

Core Competencies

• Creative agility and innovation mindset
• Leadership through influence
• Strong consumer and segment understanding
• Strategic thinking with hands-on execution