Product Designer - Specialized 5 (P5 Expert Designer)

Product Designer - Specialized 5 (P5 Expert Designer) Employment Type: Contractor (Hybrid) Location: Beaverton, OR 97005 Work Model: Hybrid | Friday Remote Expert Product Designer (Specialized 5) to support the Olympics Footwear Design team . This role is responsible for delivering premium, innovation-driven footwear designs while collaborating closely with cross-functional partners throughout the product creation lifecycle. The ideal candidate is a senior-level footwear designer with strong industrial design expertise, proven project ownership, and the ability to navigate complex design and manufacturing processes independently. Key Responsibilities Deliver product vision and execute seasonal footwear projects aligned with creative direction and project briefs. Create and set design direction for a product collection, silo, or dimension. Lead design from concept through presentation and manufacturing. Communicate and present design concepts to internal and external stakeholders. Ensure timely delivery by clearly communicating design changes and milestones. Collaborate cross-functionally with Development, Innovation, Manufacturing, Product Merchandising, and Operations. Actively participate in creative reviews and cross-functional decision-making. Provide mentorship and creative leadership support to other designers as needed. Top 3 Non-Negotiable Skills Footwear Industrial Design (Expert Level): Deep expertise in footwear design, innovation, and materials within a corporate footwear environment. Communication Excellence: Ability to work across multiple cross-functional partners and keep leadership informed of progress. Project Management & Autonomy: Self-starter with strong understanding of footwear design and product creation processes; able to manage complexity independently. Required & Preferred Qualifications Experience: 10+ years preferred (minimum 8+ years of relevant footwear design experience) Must come from a comparable corporate footwear design environment (e.g., Adidas, New Balance, etc.) Previous Nike experience is not required Functional & Technical Skills Expert-level footwear design skills from brief through manufacturing. Strong digital design proficiency (Adobe Creative Suite required). Preferred experience with advanced digital tools and 3D design workflows. Deep understanding of make, materials, and manufacturing processes. Strong presentation and storytelling skills. Mastery of creative process, business context, and consumer insights. Ability to balance innovation, performance, sustainability, and brand purpose. Key Cross-Functional Partners Athletes Design Triad Development Innovation Manufacturing Product Merchandising Operations Sustainability & Purpose Teams Core Competencies Creative agility and innovation mindset Leadership through influence Strong consumer and segment understanding Strategic thinking with hands-on execution Recruiter Submission Template - Full Name: Degree Major with University and Completion Year: Total Years of Footwear Design Experience: Total Years of Corporate Footwear Design Experience: Expert-level Industrial Design experience in the footwear industry? Experience working with innovation and materials design in footwear? Experience working in a large corporate footwear design environment (e.g., Adidas, New Balance, etc.)? Experience delivering footwear design from brief to presentation to manufacturing? Experience creating and setting design direction for a product line or collection? Experience collaborating with cross-functional partners (Development, Innovation, Manufacturing, Merchandising)? Strong communication and presentation skills with leadership and stakeholders? Self-starter with ability to manage complex projects independently? Experience using Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.)? Experience with advanced digital tools / 3D footwear design software? Strong understanding of footwear make and manufacturing processes? Experience mentoring or guiding other designers? Portfolio Link (Required): Motivation / Reason for Relocation (if not local to Beaverton, OR): Motivation / Reason for Interest in This Position: Contact Number: Email ID: LinkedIn Profile URL: Full Address (Street, City, State, Zip Code): Notice Period (in weeks): Current Work Authorization Status: Expected Hourly Rate (USD): Is it W2 / C2C, If C2C, May I know your corporation name? Are you able to relocate on your own expenses and work hybrid at Nike WHQ, Beaverton, OR (Fridays remote)? Veracity