Lead Basketball Footwear Product Developer

Become a Part of the NIKE, Inc. Team

NIKE, Inc. does more than outfit the world’s best athletes. It’s a place where passionate individuals come together to create the future of sport. We are unapologetic about who we are and what we’re after—bringing innovation and inspiration to every athlete* in the world. We look for athletes who can push boundaries, elevate our potential and continue leading us to greatness. The next tastemakers, playmakers, risk takers and glue players. Are you game?

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

As a member of the Nike Basketball FW Development team, you will work to deliver the world’s greatest basketball footwear for our Nike Signature Athletes and all other athletes* in the world.   You’ll collaborate with key footwear functional partners across the globe and help ensure that performance, quality and business needs are always considered. You are the key point of contact between our PCC/PMO partners and PHK product team and must ensure that communication during the product development process is complete, clear, and accurate. The environment of Nike Basketball is as dynamic as the game itself and the ideal candidate will be comfortable with changes, ambiguity and passionate about obsessing performance quality in every decision they make.  This role reports to the Director, Nike Basketball FW Product Development.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for a Lead Footwear Product Developer to be an integral part of our Nike Basketball Team to help create pinnacle performance footwear for the highest performing athletes in the game of basketball.  The ideal candidate needs to have demonstrated project management, collaboration, and problem-solving skills in a product development environment.  They will interact with athletes and the product creation teams across the globe to apply insights while also ensuring the projects hit key measurables for both business and performance.  In addition, we are looking for people that are self-starters, quick learners, clear communicators, great teammates, and exhibit strong leadership skills. As a member of the Nike Basketball FW Development team, this person will effectively build relationships, lead, and interact with teams across Nike Footwear Product Creation and with teams comprising of diverse cultures across various countries. 

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, industrial design, business, marketing, physical sciences, or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training
• A minimum of 6 years directly relevant work experience
• Directly applicable Footwear Development or Engineering work experience across multiple footwear sports/styles. 
• Experience or training in Marketing, Business, Industrial Design, Engineering, Physical Sciences preferred 
• Have a solid understanding of the tools supporting and tactically driving the footwear product creation process, best using subject matter experts in footwear lasts, upper patterns, materials, chemistry, bottom tooling, injection and plates, costing, test methodologies, and manufacturing. 
• Demonstrated experience in Driving Product Initiatives and/or Strategy across the greater Footwear Dimensions and/or Divisions. 
• Outstanding High-profile communication and influencing skills, with the ability to champion sophisticated projects both cross-functionally and vertically with the organization, including senior leaders. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a keen awareness of the audience, knowing when to go deep into the details when warranted, and when to simplify the sophisticated. 
• A highly organized and resilient approach, a high tolerance for ambiguity, with an outstanding ability to seamlessly balance constantly evolving priorities. 
• A tried leadership Identity that nurtures partnership, instils trust, encourages, and empowers teammates/peers to ultimately deliver on product excellence. 
• Strong understanding of the creation process, including production planning, forecasting, and scheduling to deliver product quality in a timely, efficient, and effective way. 
• Ability to travel up to 15% of the time 

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

As a Lead Footwear Product Developer for Nike Basketball, you will work on new creation of technical product as well as expression of color, material, and graphic applications.  You will drive product and process excellence, within a collaborative team environment, for your assigned projects as well as converting a project brief and 2D design tech pack into a physical footwear sample that meets the needs of the respective athlete, consumer, and business.

• You apply your expert level knowledge and experience to improve product excellence.
• You identify and address key issues and challenges in construction/manufacturing and engage in all phases of the product process to ensure projects are managed according to critical dates and completed on time.
• You meet design intent, performance goals, costing/profitability, sustainability targets, and product integrity requirements.

NIKE, Inc. is a growth company that looks for team members to grow with it. Nike offers a generous total rewards package, casual work environment, a diverse and inclusive culture, and an electric atmosphere for professional development. No matter the location, or the role, every Nike employee shares one galvanizing mission: To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world.

NIKE, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.