Sr Manager, Footwear Material Design

Job Title: Sr Manager, Footwear Material Design
Location: Beaverton, OR
Duration: 6 months
Hybrid: Mon – Thurs onsite, Fri remote

Job Description:

• Degree preferred, not a hard requirement
• 10 years’ experience in footwear design preferred

Top must-have skills include the following:

• Collaborative nature
• Adobe expertise
• Product creation knowledge (i.e. construction, build, etc.)
• Solution-oriented
• People management skills

Skills that would make a candidate stand out:

• 3D rendering skills
• Prior Client experience (or similar experience with a competitor)
• Consumer/market acumen

Additional Details

• ETW will be working closely with color teams, developers, merchandisers, project managers, and others on all cleated footwear product (training, golf footwear, etc.)
• Portfolios required with all submissions
• 1-2 rounds of interviews preferred

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• We’re looking for a Sr Manager, Footwear Material Design to combine their experience, problem solving abilities, and creativity to help build the future of Client Sport Footwear Material Design.
• The ideal candidate will elevate the Client consumer product experience by seamlessly integrating art, science, and street wear culture into Sport leaning products.
• In this role, you will foster a deep emotional connection to our products by crafting compelling narratives and storytelling through innovative material concepts.

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON

• As the Sr Manager, Footwear Material Design, you will collaborate closely with leadership and cross-functional teams—including Footwear Product Designers, Color Design, Developers, and Product Line Managers—to advance innovative materials and manufacturing approaches on strategic projects.
• Your focus will be on shaping design direction and dimensional strategy, elevating existing materials, and pioneering new material concepts.
• As a recognized expert at both the product and collection level, you will translate consumer insights into compelling, trend and performance driven narratives.
• Success in this position depends on integrating design, development, and manufacturing to achieve product excellence.
• By leveraging research and a deep understanding of youth culture, color trends, fashion, art, and sports, you will help position Client at the forefront of material innovation.

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

• On a day to day basis you’ll work closely with your design partners in product design, color design and graphic design.
• You will also work cross functionally with your technical and material development partners, product management and merchandising teams.

WHAT YOU BRING

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree in design or equivalent education, experience, or training.

EXPERIENCE:

• 8 years of relevant design experience in advancing material design, textile design, or footwear design
• Bachelor’s degree in design, art, or related field (fashion, product, industrial, accessory, footwear, or textile design); Master’s degree accepted, Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training
• Ability to interpret consumer insights and translate them into compelling product narratives
• Skilled in concept creation and exploring material innovations and technologies
• Experience building inspiration presentations and mood boards for seasonal concepts
• Understanding of the Footwear Product Creation process
• Experience collaborating with manufacturing partners to ensure design intent and material execution
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• Experienced with presentation programs: Keynote, PowerPoint, Acrobat, Miro etc.
• Ability to ideate using digital platforms (Gravity Sketch, CLO a plus)
• Experience creating 3D samples and hand mockups (a plus)
• Strong presentation skills for small and large groups
• Collaborative, positive, good listener, receptive to candid feedback and diverse points of view.
• Passion for design, culture, and design excellence.
• Highly organized and self-sufficient
• Speaks up with courage for self and the team.
• Passion for and desire to learn people leadership.