WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

The Korea SPACE Innovator is an integral part of our NXT (Nike eXplore Teams) Footwear and SPACE team, collaborating with a diverse and talented group to refine processes and deliver breakthrough product innovations and new methods of make. They will work closely with PIC, PMO, WHQ (World Headquater) Innovators, Design teams, and Leadership groups across multiple levels of the organization. This role will directly report to Director, Footwear Development Innovation, NXT based in Taiwan.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for an entrepreneurial leader who thrives in ambiguity and embraces risk while pursuing innovation and opportunity. The ideal candidate will possess an adventurous mindset, curiosity for learning, and the ability to navigate uncertainty, making bold but calculated decisions. They also excel in identifying opportunities where markets have gaps and using their hands-on approach to shape impactful products and solutions.

This candidate should show evidence of taking unconventional paths in their career, favouring learning and growth over stability and risk avoidance. They are highly comfortable with the early stages of projects, where creativity, experimentation, and rapid problem-solving are required. A key trait is their ability to inspire confidence and persuade others, enabling strong collaborative relationships across organizational levels. Above all, entrepreneurial leadership is about taking ownership—shaping initiatives, driving results, and leaving a lasting impact with their work.

Top Traits and Skills Required:

• Comfort with Risk and Ambiguity: Demonstrated ability to perform well in unpredictable environments and make bold decisions when faced with uncertainty.
• Hands-On and Ownership-Oriented: A proactive leader who takes direct ownership of initiatives, working closely with teams to ensure outcomes align with goals.
• Visionary Thinking: Ability to see beyond conventional approaches, identifying unique opportunities to innovate and create impactful solutions.
• Persuasive Communication: Proven ability to inspire confidence and persuade stakeholders, paired with strong collaboration skills across all levels.
• Creative Problem Solver: Experience in developing new processes, products, or strategies from the ground up, thriving in the early stages of project development.
• Strong organization skills and a proven Creative team leader.
• Preferred – Computation design skills, Digital programming skills, engineering mindset, Prototyping and sampling experience.

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

As the Advanced Innovation Collective SPACE innovator, you will play a critical role in driving groundbreaking product concepts from ideation to reality. You will collaborate across teams to develop advanced methods of making, deliver innovative solutions, and foster competitive advantages in the marketplace.

Key Responsibilities:

• Team Collaboration: You will partner closely with product creation teams, Research and Engineering, and business units to nurture and shape new concepts aligned with the Explore vision. You’ll collaborate across Nike, working as a critical thought partner to align resources and drive action plans.
• Concept Validation: You define testing protocols and establish the scope needed to prove and validate new product concepts through Research and Engineering. Your creative problem-solving skills will help turn ideas into engineered prototypes.
• Nurturing Innovation: You enable teams to explore new Methods of Make (MoM) and performance-based solutions that advance Nike’s competitive position in the marketplace.
• Relationship Building: You cultivate strong connections across a highly matrixed organization, collaborating with teams ranging from Product Creation to PMO, PIC, and WHQ to develop projects that evolve Nike’s innovation landscape.
• Coaching and Mentorship: You prioritize fostering an inclusive environment that develops diverse team members, consistently coaching, mentoring, and inspiring Explorers to achieve their full potential.
• Execution Excellence: You thrive in turning concepts and new visions into actionable plans while navigating ambiguity, overcoming roadblocks, and building something from the ground up.
• Pioneering Product Creation: You lead by leveraging advanced engineering and knowledge of the Explore Landscape, furthering opportunities to develop cutting-edge product concepts using new technologies and processes.

This is a dynamic, high-impact role that challenges you to think beyond conventional boundaries, inspire innovation, and deliver solutions that shape the future of Nike.