Leader of Design - Color & Concepts

Leader of Design – Color & Concepts

Based in Morgan Hill, CA. This is more than a design role—it’s your chance to help define the look and feel of the most innovative, highest-performing bikes in the world. At Specialized, every color, every line, every texture tells a story of innovation, craftsmanship, and performance. As the Leader of Design, Color & Concepts, you’ll help shape the visual identity of the bikes ridden by thousands and raced on the biggest stages in the world by the greatest athletes alive. You’ll lead the creative vision that captures Specialized’s performance DNA through color, material, and finish—bringing emotion, craft, and innovation together in perfect balance. From everyday rides to race-day execution, you’ll set the tone for how riders see and feel performance. If you're a detail-oriented creative visionary who thrives on collaboration and is driven by the pursuit of perfection, this is your chance to leave a lasting impact on a brand at the forefront of cycling. Embrace the opportunity to immerse yourself in the work, get hands-on, and help riders around the world enhance their experiences.

How you’ll make a difference

Design Leadership

• Collaborate closely with category and product owners to deliver a holistic CMF direction across bike and equipment.
• Edit and refine products throughout the creation, development, and production process to achieve brand and business objectives.

Team Building

• Create an atmosphere that fosters curiosity, innovative thinking, and collaboration in the service of delivering best-in-the-world products and experiences.
• Mentor the CMF design team and be the driving force for our CMF process and output.
• Attract and develop design talent both inside and outside the company.

Design Responsibilities

• Create clear design documents that visually communicate and articulate your design inspiration, concept and intent.
• Successfully share and present each idea to key stakeholders for cross functional alignment and buy in.
• Inject a modernized and youthful perspective to the use of all color, material, finish.
• Demonstrate a strong collaborative approach that welcomes feedback and successfully implements into your design work throughout the process.
• Define ownable textures and elements on product that make it uniquely specialized.
• Create, develop, and execute new tools across categories that help bring clarity and resolution to challenged conversations.

What you need to win

• Degree in Industrial Design, Graphic Design, or a related field.
• Proficiency in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite and 3D modeling tools.
• 10 years in Color, Material and Finish or like fields.
• Strong experience in building brand narratives through material and surface treatments.
• Strong ability to communicate your design intent and vision physically and digitally.
• An online portfolio with specific examples of high-quality design work.
• Ability to bring clarity to complex conversations and product challenges.
• Display and prove Specialized core competencies including curiosity, humility, team-focus, passion, and ownership.
• Excellent at mentoring, collaborating and great interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional visual communication skills and the ability to inspire teams through storytelling.
• Ability to hit stringent deadlines while managing multiple projects.
• Great vision with sensitivity to current trends.
• Friendly, fun, hardworking, nurturing, courteous, and accessible.
• Love bicycles.

Pay

Below is a summary of compensation elements for this role at the company if based in the following locations: California.

Base Pay Range: ($129,326 - $225,026)

*At Specialized, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package and will depend on your work experience, skills, certification, and location.

Benefits

• Competitive pay with annual performance-based reviews for continued growth and recognition.
• Comprehensive healthcare plan options, including PPO, EPO, HDHP, and HMO (acupuncture and physical therapy included).
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer HSA contributions when enrolled in the High-Deductible Healthcare Plan (HDHP).
• Dental and Vision plans.
• 401(k) Company Matching up to $5,000 annually with immediate 100% vesting and administrative fees paid for by the company.
• Company-paid Life, AD&D, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program that provides access to individualized mental well-being care.
• Generous Vacation, Sick, Paid Holidays, and Volunteer Time Off.
• 14 weeks of 100% paid leave for birthing parents and 8 weeks of 100% paid leave for non-birthing parents, plus a Specialized bike for your new baby.
• Up to $9,000 annually in Career Development & Degree Assistance.
• Up to $250 annually in Fitness & Wellness Reimbursement.
• Industry Pro-Deal Discounts and Perks.

We want to increase representation of all races, genders, and body types in the cycling industry and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where all people thrive.

We encourage everyone – especially those from marginalized groups – to apply to our job postings and help us earn the position as the rider’s brand of choice.

We are always looking for creative, innovative, and passionate people who are eager to contribute to our mission of pedaling the planet forward.

Company Culture

1974 We are riders—that fact has guided our every decision since 1974. When quality tires weren’t around, we strove to make the best. When people wanted to ride cruisers in the dirt, we made the first production mountain bike. When roadies wanted to go faster, we doubled-down on carbon and built our own wind tunnel. And when we saw kids struggling to focus in school, we began supporting Outride to help promote better health through cycling. Specialized. Made for riders, by riders.