Lead Product Developer – North America Local Creation, Footwear

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

As part of the North America, Local Creation team, this role partners closely with key footwear functions including Color and Material Design, Material Development, Product Management, PCC/PMO, Global Product Teams, Sourcing, Planning, and Operations. You will navigate Nike’s matrixed environment to ensure alignment with Global Footwear Development standards and product excellence. Serving as the primary liaison between PCC/PMO partners and the WHQ product team, you will drive clear, accurate communication throughout the product development process and report to the Footwear Development Director for North America, Local Creation.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are seeking a Lead Footwear Product Developer to play a critical role on the North America, Local Creation Footwear Product Creation Team, driving product excellence for the North America consumer in a fast-paced, close-to-market environment. This role requires a seasoned footwear development leader with 6+ years of experience, a strong technical foundation across the footwear creation process, and the ability to lead complex initiatives, influence senior stakeholders, and drive innovation through Nike’s INLINE product creation model.

Key Responsibilities & Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Industrial Design, Engineering, Physical Sciences or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training
• Lead footwear product development projects at an accelerated pace, close to market
• Provide project and process direction within cross-functional product creation teams
• Drive innovation and product initiatives across footwear dimensions and divisions
• Leverage deep technical knowledge across lasts, uppers, materials, tooling, costing, testing, and manufacturing
• Exhibit strong project management, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Communicate effectively across functions, geographies, and leadership levels
• Demonstrate resilient leadership with high tolerance for ambiguity and changing priorities
• Build strong partnerships across global, culturally diverse teams
• Balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution to deliver product excellence
• Travel up to 15% as needed

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

As a Lead Footwear Product Developer for North America, Local Creation, you will lead footwear projects across Men’s, Women’s, and Kids, bringing ideas from 2D design and tech packs into 3D, market-ready samples. This role drives product and process excellence in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, ensuring projects deliver against design intent, performance, cost, sustainability, and timing expectations while meeting the needs of the North America consumer and Local Creation business.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive product and process excellence across assigned projects
• Develop footwear through color, material, and graphic execution
• Solve construction and manufacturing challenges proactively
• Manage projects through all phases to meet critical dates
• Balance design, performance, cost, sustainability, and product integrity
• Partner cross-functionally to deliver consumer-relevant product

We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.