HOKA Milan Community Specialist

Job Title

HOKA Milan Community Specialist at HOKA

Location

Milan, Italy

Company Overview

At Deckers Brands, Together, Every Step is a promise kept that every employee can bring their authentic self, is valued and supported, as a whole person, at work and beyond. Together, Every Step is how we continue to deliver exceptional business results, experience an amazing place to work, and have a positive impact on the communities and world around us.

Position Summary

In this role, you will act as the face of HOKA within Milan and ignite authentic connections between the brand and local running & cultural communities. The role is rooted in community and grassroots activation and event amplification through HOKA retail and wholesale channels. This role will activate new HOKA retail stores with compelling brand moments, lead owned RunClub activations, and create buzz around key cultural and sports moments through unforgettable experiences. You will work at the intersection of performance and lifestyle, bringing hyper‑local stories to life while building strategic relationships with RunClubs, influencers, ambassadors and wholesale partners. This role will activate Milan's unique identity through bold initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Execution of 360‑degree Key City Amplification Plans within the HOKA Flywheel ecosystem
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with sports marketing, PR, social media, and content teams to amplify local activations
• Manage the campaign briefing and reporting process, collaborating with internal teams to drive execution
• Design and execute a local calendar of activations
• Serve as primary connector with local runclubs, influencers, and ambassadors through product seeding, exclusive access, and collaborative content creation
• Build authentic relationships within running, lifestyle, fashion, and cultural scenes to expand brand reach organically
• Activate new HOKA retail stores around key brand and product launch moments and deliver in‑store activations
• Collaborate with trade marketing on wholesale partner initiatives to drive visibility, sell‑through and enhance retailer relationship
• Develop hyper‑local brand stories and content that connect with city‑specific culture while maintaining global brand consistency

Required Qualifications

• Fluency in Italian and English
• Deep cultural understanding of Milan
• Ability to spot and leverage cultural trends, with a finger on the pulse of local sports and lifestyle scenes
• Understanding of wholesale partner collaboration and trade marketing initiatives
• Authentic connector, able to build genuine relationships and serve as credible brand ambassador
• Entrepreneurial mindset
• Self‑motivated with ability to identify opportunities and drive initiatives

Preferred Experience

• Experience in marketing, brand activation, or community management
• Active participation in the local running scene with genuine passion for performance and lifestyle culture
• Experience planning integrated campaigns across events, digital, retail, and PR touchpoints
• Exposure to the sports/lifestyle/outdoor/retail industry is a plus
• Exceptional communication and relationship‑building skills with ability to connect authentically across diverse communities

Benefits & Compensation

• Competitive pay and bonuses – competitive compensation programs to foster career development and reward success
• Holidays + Bank holidays & some time off – generous holiday allowance and half‑day Fridays when work is finished for the week
• Extras, discounts, perks & volunteering opportunities – generous discounts and community‑based programs
• Growth and development – extensive personal and professional development opportunities including Global Mentorship Programme
• Hybrid & flexible working environment

Seniority Level

Not Applicable

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Other

Industries

Retail Apparel and Fashion, Manufacturing, and Retail

Equal Employment Opportunity

Diversity and inclusion are key to our success. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome qualified applicants who embrace their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, military or veteran status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, and all of the other beautiful parts of their identity.