DESIGN DIRECTOR, APLA EXPRESS LANE – FOOTWEAR & APPAREL

BECOME A PART OF THE NIKE, INC TEAM

NIKE, Inc. does more than outfit the world's best athletes. It is a place to explore potential, obliterate boundaries and push out the edges of what can be. The company looks for people who can grow, think, dream and create. Its culture thrives by embracing diversity and rewarding imagination. The brand seeks achievers, leaders and visionaries. At Nike, it’s about each person bringing skills and passion to a challenging and constantly evolving game.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We are seeking a Design Director for Footwear and Apparel who is a visionary creative and inspiring team leader with the ability to translate APLA Geography-specific market opportunities into unique Nike concepts. This role requires a leader who can thrive in a fast-paced, speed-to-market environment, translating local trends into rapid design iterations that capture real-time consumer demand. You will have expert knowledge in Footwear & Apparel product design and manufacturing that will empower the team to deliver crafted products at speed. In addition to managing a dynamic design process, you will serve as a key collaborator on a cross-functional product creation leadership team. This role requires a leader who is passionate about visual storytelling through Sport & Culture, adaptable to a fast-paced, ever-evolving landscape and is skilled in managing relationships and facilitating collaboration.

WHAT WILL YOU WORK ON?

As the Design Director for FW & AP in APLA, you will work with other Geography design leaders under the guidance of the Sr. Creative Director to curate and enable a distinct Nike point of view tailored to opportunities in the local marketplace. You will lead a functional creative role with business accountabilities to the APLA GM and partnership with a cross-functional leadership team. You will inspire and develop a multi-cultural high-performing creative team, fostering an environment of innovation, risk-taking, and continuous learning. The role requires consumer and design knowledge for the key APLA cities of Tokyo, Seoul and Mexico City. Leading Creative in a fast-paced, close to market business, you will need to know how to utilize market trend and insight to build a uniquely Nike creative vision that leads and connects with consumers, at speed. As the functional leader of a cross-disciplinary design team, you will facilitate creative collaboration sessions, set creative direction, and guide teammates through the close-to-market product design process. You will lead the team to drive uniquely-Nike expressions, concepts and collections through Footwear and Apparel for a diverse set of Men’s, Women’s and Kid’s consumers across Lifestyle and Performance fields of play. The Design Director is accountable to curating an APLA-specific creative point of view that amplifies the Nike voice and brand standards.

WHO WILL YOU WORK WITH?

You will lead a team of cross-discipline designers and work in partnership with a cross-functional product creation team including Apparel Design, Footwear Design, Product Management and Product Development. You will work with the APLA Geography GM and Product Directors on the APLA Leadership Team to drive successful product that amplifies business strategies. You will report functionally into the Sr. Creative Director of GEL, collaborate with Geo Express Lane Design Leadership peers, and create connection with the Global Design Leadership.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING?

• TO BE CONSIDERED, YOU MUST SUBMIT A CREATIVE DESIGN PORTFOLIO. PLEASE PROVIDE WEBSITE LINKS OR ATTACH PDF FILES WHEN YOU APPLY.
• Bachelor degree or higher in Product Design, Graphic Design or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience, or 2 additional years of relevant work experience in lieu of a degree
• Bachelors degree in Design or related field, or equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• 5 years as a senior or lead design in a corporate setting or design firm preferred
• Experience in international markets preferred, specifically in Asia Pacific and Latin American territories
• Proven ability to inspire and lead creative teams under high-pressure, fast-paced environments.
• Collaborative spirit with excellent soft skills and flexibility to manage multiple projects, work with internal and external partners, and cross-functional teams efficiently.
• Contribute and align to shared team culture and behaviors.
• Strong illustration, typography, brand identity, and color theory skills.
• Mastery of the creative process, guiding the team through all stages of design.
• Excellent storytelling skills.
• Profound knowledge of fashion and elevated craft.
• Mastery in presentation and communication skills.
• Proficiency in digital design software (Creative Suite).
• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally
• Deep understanding of make and manufacturing processes.

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.