Director, Design - HOKA Performance Footwear

Laceless Design; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 209,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay and bonuses

Financial planning

Time off

Employee discounts

Job summary

Deckers Brands in Portland, Oregon invites a visionary Director, Design to lead HOKA Performance Footwear across Racing, Road, Trail, Training and Hiking categories. You will guide a team of designers, translating athlete insight into distinctive product concepts and storytelling.

You'll partner with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative footwear with clear design direction from concept to commercialization, in a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in industrial design, product design, or related field.
• 10+ years of footwear design experience across racing, road, trail, training or hiking categories.
• 3+ years leading or mentoring footwear designers.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the creative vision for HOKA Performance Footwear across Racing, Road, Trail, Training, and Hiking categories.
• Create distinctive product concepts, design languages, branding, and franchise strategies.
• Translate athlete insight and market trends into compelling product experiences.
• Inspire a high-performing design team through leadership and mentorship.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure design intent from concept to commercialization.

Skills

Leadership

Footwear design

Concept development

Brand storytelling

Design leadership

Collaboration

2D/3D design tools

AI-enabled exploration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in industrial design

Tools

2D design tools

3D design tools

AI-driven design workflows

Job description

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.

Job Title:Director, Design - HOKA Performance Footwear

Reports to:Sr. Director, Footwear Design - HOKA

Location: Portland, OR (Hybrid)

Typically 3 times per week in office, Tuesday – Thursday

The Role

As the Director, Performance Footwear Design - HOKA, you will lead the creative vision and design execution for HOKA’s Racing, Road, Trail, Training, and Hiking footwear categories. You’ll inspire breakthrough product concepts, elevate design craft, and shape the future expression of HOKA Performance Footwear. Your leadership will guide a team of designers in creating innovative, athlete-informed footwear solutions that blend performance, storytelling, and distinctive visual identity. You’ll collaborate across Product Management, Innovation, Development, Engineering, CMG, and Digital partners to translate consumer insight and emerging opportunities into industry-leading products.

We celebrate diversity--of your background, your experiences and your unique identity. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and equitable workplace where all of our employees can Come as They Are. We believe that when we bring our different perspectives to work, we are truly Better Together.

Your Impact

• Define and drive the creative vision for HOKA Performance Footwear across Racing, Road, Trail, Training, and Hiking categories.
• Create distinctive product concepts, design languages, branding, and franchise strategies that strengthen HOKA’s performance leadership.
• Translate athlete insight, cultural shifts, and emerging opportunities into compelling product experiences.
• Champion a “Best Possible” design mindset, balancing innovation, performance, usability, and aesthetic expression.
• Partner with Color, Material, Graphic, and Digital teams to deliver cohesive and inspiring product stories.
• Protect strong design intent across silhouette, proportion, details, construction, and athlete experience.
• Inspire and develop a high-performing team of footwear designers through creative leadership, coaching, and mentorship.
• Foster a culture of creativity, curiosity, craft, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Elevate team capability in concept creation, design storytelling, technical design, and innovation.
• Partner with the Sr. Director to recruit, develop, and retain top design talent.
• Create clarity around seasonal priorities, standards, reviews, and deliverables.
• Partner across Product, Innovation, Development, Engineering, CMG, Digital, and Merchandising to bring category visions to life.
• Influence briefs, innovation opportunities, and seasonal priorities through a design-led perspective.
• Protect and elevate design intent from concept through commercialization.
• Communicate compelling design narratives at key reviews and leadership forums.
• Maintain a sharp view of the competitive landscape to inspire innovation and differentiation.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in industrial design, product design, or related field.
• 10+ years of footwear design experience, preferably across racing, road, trail, training, hiking, or outdoor performance categories.
• 3+ years leading, managing, or mentoring footwear designers.
• Strong experience leading footwear from concept through commercialization.
• Experience partnering across design, product, development, innovation, engineering, merchandising, and brand teams within a global product creation model.
• Deep creative strength in footwear design, concept development, product storytelling, and visual expression.
• Strong understanding of performance footwear needs across running, racing, trail, training, hiking, and outdoor use.
• Ability to translate athlete insight, consumer need, and competitive landscape into distinctive product direction.
• Strong knowledge of biomechanics, construction, proportion, midsole and outsole design, materials, fit, ride, and performance benefit.
• Advanced technical drawing, visual communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to inspire teams through clear creative direction, constructive feedback, and high design standards.
• Strong understanding of digital design tools and modern creative workflows, including 2D, 3D, and AI-enabled exploration.

What We'll Give You –

• Competitive Pay and Bonuses - We’ve created a variety of competitive compensation programs to foster career development, reward success and to show our employees just how much they’re valued.
• Financial Planning and wellbeing - No matter what financial goals our employees have set, we want to help them get there. Our plans provide powerful ways to protect income, pay for expenses and invest in the future.
• Time away from work - Sometimes we need time away to be with family, focus on our health or just simply recharge. Our plans support our employees’ needs to get out, get healthy and come back stronger than ever.
• Extras, discounts and perks - Being a valued member of the Deckers Brands team means more than just a paycheck. From generous discounts to community-based programs, we offer a variety of cool extras
• Growth and Development - Deckers Brands was built on the idea of pursuing passion. That’s why we offer extensive opportunities and support for personal and professional development.
• Health and Wellness - There’s nothing basic about our comprehensive health and wellness programs and offerings. While at work and at play, we aim to support a healthy lifestyle.

$154,700.00 - $208,800.00

The salary range posted reflects the estimated minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for this role in:

Portland, Oregon

Individual pay will be determined by location and additional factors, including job related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Diversity and inclusion are key to our success. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and our employees are people with different strengths, experiences and backgrounds who share a passion for our brands. We welcome qualified applicants regardless of 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 the other beautiful parts of your identity.