Director, Footwear Design

Who We Are:

At Brooks, we believe movement is the key to feeling more alive. That’s why we’re driven to create gear and experiences that take people to the place that makes them feel more alive — whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line.

Everyone who works at Brooks is propelled by a company culture that sparks excitement, fuels collaboration, inspires creativity, and ignites innovation.

Our brand values help bond us together and drive our success:

·       Runner First  

We act in the best interest of the runner

·       Word is Bond 

We do what we say we’ll do

·       Champion Heart  

We give our all in everything we do  

·       There is no “I” in Run

We stay generous with our humanity

·       Keep Moving

We find ways to move every day, because joy is kinetic!

We welcome everyone from every walk of life looking to inspire others through the power of movement — because we’re all moving towards something. Let’s run there.   

Your Job:

As the Director, Footwear Design, you will direct the AESTHETIC READINESS of Brooks Running footwear through the Spring/Fall Footwear Inline Design and Innovation Design Teams from concept to execution. Central to the position you will provide leadership and vision to a team of managers and designers responsible for reimagining performance running footwear for the brand. You will direct a team towards a progressive look of seasonal performance running footwear collections by striking the perfect balance of modern design with a passion of building an unmatched world class design team through the constant development of people.

In your visionary capacity you are steering the emotional experience of our footwear products to make a premium impact. As the Director, Footwear Design, you will co-direct with the Director, Color & Trend the creative foundation CRAFTED BEAUTY in order to create compelling footwear product designs. By managing and leading with the creative foundation CRAFTED BEAUTY, you will constantly elevate its connection across fit, feel and ride. It is the tie that binds our devotion to the runner and performance innovation with the visual appeal humans are yearning for in performance running product.

As the Director, Footwear Design, you will create and manage the long-term direction of our running footwear by providing direction, leadership, mentorship and inspiration. By directing through the creative foundation and the constant integration of digital creation tools, you will elevate the vision of our CRAFTED BEAUTY foundation to create expression of applied running performance solutions. To do so you will nurse a close relationship to our Run Research Lab to conceive future innovation based on runner research insights while maintaining brand direction and appropriate aesthetic appeal for a targeted consumer.

As the Director, Footwear Design, you will directly oversee the design functions of Inline and Innovation Design including a 3D Design function. With your energy and extensive experience in leadership to connect with people you will foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement promoting professional growth and development of the teams. You are proactively anticipating risks and effectively lead the team to navigate any challenges while minimizing exposure to the business. A key element of your role will be to apply and to develop critical thinking, problem solving and process improvement skills in your managers and others. You will provide opportunities to your team to apply these skills and have input on decisions.

As the Director, Footwear Design, you will be a member of the leadership teams of the Seasonal Creation Leaders and the Future Creation Leaders to see your vision of the applied emotional experience through all times of product creation. You are a partner to the whole design organization of Brooks Running and to external organizations. You possess the business acumen and consumer understanding with an ability to drive execution and decision-making. You have a proven history of building strong working relations with trust and effective communication to ensure that Brooks is the most LOVED brand for runners worldwide.

• LEADERSHIP
• Upgrade through direction, education, and coaching in footwear but also across the organization the aesthetic competitiveness of our performance products.
• Co-create our creative foundation CRAFTED BEAUTY with the Director, Color & Trend.
• Direct the Brooks Running Footwear Design Team – Inline & Innovation.
• Lead the teams through our product review gates of the Idea to Consumer calendar – I2R.
•       Design Brief Kick-off
•      Design Concept Review
•       SPAM 1
•      SPAM 2
• Lead, inspire and create a cohesive design vision across all product creation.
• Mentor and influence managers and stakeholders on developing and applying a critical thinking and process improvement lens on decisions.
• Demonstrate strong people leadership skills rooted in Connect principles.   
• Promote Brooks’ Core Cultural Values: Responsible for team culture and keep a pulse on morale to proactively address any concerns.   
• Create an organizational design to align with business strategy and conditions.    
• Set clear objectives, monitor progress, coach, mentor and motivate staff.
• Provide career-development planning, coaching, training and support teams to create and foster a culture of learning, personal development, curiosity and innovation. 
• Model leadership behavior across the organization.   
• Drive performance management.
• Initiate recognition and rewards.

• DESIGN
• Establish, maintain and nurture the design direction - to achieve the key goals of being innovative, authentic and relevant.
• Create visions extending the seasonal stories and RRL (Run Research Lab) runner insights into product applications.
• Direct the seasonal updates of our CRAFTED BEAUTY with your team.
• Provide strategic direction, leadership, mentorship and inspiration to a diverse team of Designers while driving alignment of total footwear line.
• Innovate identity principles to maximize perceived value to drive superior competitiveness.
• Remain up-to-date and knowledgeable in your craft to ensure you are continuously aware of information needed to design a consumer and brand relevant product.
• Attend trade fairs, cultural events, and sporting events to ensure runner insights for design inspiration.
• Attend store visits, market visits, and team travel as necessary for design inspiration.
• Synthesize results into presentation that drives or aesthetic conversation across the enterprise.
• Incorporate a global point of view, accounting for regional differences for various markets.

• CROSS TEAM COLLABORATION
• Influence Product Management to create strong product stories.
• Strong direction to Footwear Development to improve aesthetics by assisting development process & cost management.
• Work with the Marketing team in creating and communicating the inspiration and storytelling.
• Build and maintain a collaborative workplace that celebrates the diversity of our associates, allowing them to bring their authentic selves to work every day. 

• 4-year college or university degree in product, graphics, apparel or footwear design, equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted for degree. International education is a plus.
• 12+ years of experience creating color/material/textile programs and future vision of consumer goods – ideally sports industry.
• Extensive experience creating aesthetics and stories for international markets of consumer goods.
• Ability to scale and balance aesthetics to include all three major markets NA/EMEA/APLA.
• 7+ year’s managerial experience, managing direct reports and developing talent.
• Thorough knowledge of art and design with clear understanding of visual design or any design related environment.
• Proven experience creating and leading the execution of vision and strategy.
• Experience managing external resources.
• Ability to understand design conceptually across product categories.
• Ability to understand design concepts and think conceptually.
• Ability to create designs that meet category needs and commercial opportunities.
• Ability to operate in a fast pace, ever changing work environment.
• Ability to manage a team of professionals to inspire and motivate them to produce their best work.
• Ability to build and foster relationships in a team environment. This position requires employee to engage with many stakeholders, as well as manage various information and relationships.
• Ability and desire to push themselves, others, and the brand forward.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with key business partners.
• Keen attention to detail in planning, organization, and execution of tasks (self and through others), while still seeing the big picture and understanding how all the pieces fit together and affect one another.
• Demonstration of innovation and initiative – always looking at improving our products and processes while also displaying a willingness to dive into the details and help wherever necessary.
• Passionate participation in Brooks’ sports activities a plus, overridden by the ability to understand and empathize with the runner in order to develop loyal, engaging relationships with our customers and the Brooks community.
• Mastery with Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop
• Competent using Apple Mac Operating system
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint etc.)
• 3D not required, but a plus.
• Embraces and lives the Brooks values!
• Travel 10% (Domestically/Internationally)

Compensation: The pay range for this position, based out of the Brooks Seattle HQ, is $182,541 - $292,087 per year. Base pay offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.  

Other:

Brooks is proud to offer a robust benefits package to our employees and their families!  

Benefits - including medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance, HSA and employer contribution, FSA, family & fertility assistance, 401K Savings Plan and match, employee assistance program, and transportation assistance.  

Paid Time Off - Brooks offers generous time off including three to five weeks of paid time off, eleven paid holidays, paid sick and parental leave. 

Bonus - in addition to base pay, Brooks employees may also be offered an annual bonus based on company performance.   

Perks - including product discounts, employee recognition, fitness discounts, volunteer and donation benefits. 

Location- You will spend 3 days per week in our Seattle offices, as we believe our organization flourishes when connections, collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and celebrations happen in person.

At Brooks, we celebrate diversity & equity. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and encourage people of all backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skills to apply. Brooks is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, two-spirit identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, the presence of a physical, mental, or sensory disability, marital status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), caste, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking, HIV or Hepatitis C infection, political ideology, use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability, or on any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, or any other non-merit based factors.