NikeSKIMS combines the best of both brands – Nike’s legacy of innovation and athlete insights with SKIMS dedication to the female form, and inclusive solutions for every body. We're carving out a bold and unique position in the global fitness industry, delivering innovation and style the industry hasn’t seen before. We’re excited to invite more women into sport and movement with products that make them feel strong and sexy.

Our first collection launches this Spring in the United States and will begin to expand to global markets in 2026.

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH 

As a member of the new Nike/SKIMS organization (operating within the Apparel Org) you will collaborate closely with key footwear functional partners in Design, Product Management, Material Development, offshore Nike and factory Teams, Global Sourcing and Planning, and Operations. You will be the key point of contact between our offshore PCC/PMO partners & WHQ product team and must ensure that communication throughout the product development process is complete, clear, accurate, and timely. This role reports to Sr Dir NikeSKIMS Product Merchandising 

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR  

We are looking for a Lead Footwear Product Developer to be an integral part of Nike’s newly created co-branded partnership with SKIMS.    As a member of the Nike/SKIMS Org, you’ll have the opportunity to work with teams across both Nike’s Footwear & Apparel Orgs.  You’ll also interact with external stakeholders directly affiliated with the SKIMS brand as well as Nike’s offshore Creation & Manufacturing partner teams. 

As Lead Footwear Product Developer, you will play an instrumental part in ensuring Footwear product excellence, achieving seasonal value/cost targets, and timely marketplace readiness on behalf of the Nike/SKIMS brand.   In addition, you will provide expert project and process direction across a range of performance and lifestyle product.  Our ideal candidate must have exceptional project management, communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills within this newly formed team. 

You will utilize your expert level understanding of footwear technical knowledge and 3D digital tools, including patterns, mold design, chemical, materials, costing, and manufacturing to appropriately achieve project objectives at the highest level of efficiency and accountability.

In terms of ‘success factors’, we’re looking for someone who’s a confident, resourceful, & adaptable self-starter, is comfortable with ambiguity and adaptable to change.  They are highly solution-oriented and regularly demonstrates an enterprise mindset while leading the tactical details of seasonal product execution.     

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education, experience or training

• Degree in Marketing, Business, Industrial Design, Engineering or equivalent combination of education, experience or training 

• A minimum of 6 years directly relevant work experience  

• Footwear Development experience across multiple footwear product types.  Prior experience or familiarity with FW Engineering and/or Product Testing is a significant s asset in this role.

• High profile communication and influencing skills, including the ability to interact with leadership  

• Proven talent and team development experience  

• A proven leadership Identity that nurtures partnership, instills trust, encourages, and empowers teammates/peers to ultimately deliver on product excellence, including coaching and mentoring 

• Knowledge of footwear manufacturing technologies and equipment, tooling and materials is highly 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. 

• Familiarity with material performance specifications used in category-specific footwear  

• Demonstrated experience in driving or enabling 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 a range of FW projects both cross-functionally and vertically with the organization, including senior leaders.

• Understanding of product planning, forecasting and scheduling is desired  

• 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, a tenacious/resilient approach, high tolerance for ambiguity, an outstanding ability to seamlessly balance constantly evolving priorities.

• Ability to travel up to 15% of the time  

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON 

As our Lead Nike/SKIMS Footwear Product Developer, you will work on both new creation and seasonal expressions of both performance and lifestyle footwear that enables our Nike/SKIMS co-branded strategy and seasonal objectives.  Within a collaborative team environment, you will be skilled at converting a project brief and 2D design tech pack into a physical footwear sample that meets the needs of our respective athletes*, consumers, and business objectives.

We’re looking for you to apply your expert level knowledge and experience to drive product excellence, by continually identifying & addressing key issues and challenges in construction/manufacturing and effectively engage in all phases of the creation process to ensure projects achieve their critical dates and are completed on time, while meeting design intent, performance goals, costing/profitability, sustainability targets, and product integrity requirements. 

We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.