Senior Design Director

SENIOR DESIGN DIRECTOR FTW

Area Brand adidas

Department Innovation

Direct reporting line SVP Innovation Design & Concepts

Subsidiary/country USA

Location Portland

Number of Personnel Managed 6

Cost Center/Budget and/or Revenue Responsibility Yes

PURPOSE & OVERALL RELEVANCE FOR THE ORGANIZATION

We are seeking a dynamic Senior Design Director to lead our Innovation Design team. This role requires a visionary leader who can set the tone and design language for our products, drive innovation, and foster collaboration across functions. The ideal candidate is entrepreneurial, forward-thinking, and passionate about creating cutting-edge solutions for athletes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Implement the Design Direction for adidas Innovation.

Lead a team of designers to establish a clear design language for our products, with a focus on industrial design principles.

Drive innovation and challenge conventions to bring newness to our product offerings.

Manage collaboration with cross-functional partners to ensure alignment and cohesiveness in product development.

Be responsible for the development and growth of the design team, including recruiting new talent.

Foster a culture of creativity, collaboration, and excellence within the team.

Be responsible for design and material development, working closely with development partners to build high-performance prototypes.

Consider small-batch production and industrialization of concepts, ensuring speed of handover for online development.

Identify and work with cross-functional innovation competencies to source and develop new ingredients for product innovation.

Work closely with athletes, engaging in dialogue to create tailored solutions.

Collaborate with Product team in Portland to ensure continuity in visual language and performance across brand categories.

Spend time with factories and suppliers to drive innovative solutions and generate intellectual property (IP) and novelty in design and manufacturing.

Collaborate with legal team to build a portfolio of patents and design registrations (IDFs).

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Innovation Teams incl. Innovation Senior Leadership Team

Creative Direction

Innovation Development

Different departments within Design

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Strong portfolio demonstrating innovative product design and development within the Footwear industry.

Entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for driving creativity and innovation.

Excellent leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.

Experience in managing cross-functional teams and building relationships with athletes, suppliers, and partners, ideally across borders.

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or related field.

Minimum of 10 years of experience in design leadership roles within the sporting goods or related industry.

At least 5 years experience of leading Footwear Design teams.