Director, Footwear Design

• 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.

Qualifications:

• 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.