Director, Olympics Apparel Product Design

Nike; Beaverton (OR); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Nike seeks a visionary Director of Olympics & Paralympic Apparel to drive the brand’s innovation and design strategy for Olympic programs.

You will lead a four-person design team, collaborating with marketing, merchandising and product management to translate insights into industry-defining products for athletes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in apparel, fashion design or related field required.
• 8+ years of relevant design work experience in apparel/sportswear.
• Experience working with athletes and translating insights into products.
• Deep knowledge of innovation and elevated craft.
• Understanding of make and manufacturing processes.
• Mastery of the creative process and guiding a design team.

Responsibilities

• Lead Olympic/Paralympic apparel design strategy and vision across cross-functional teams.
• Mentor and develop a team of four designers to deliver innovative products for athletes.
• Collaborate with marketing, merchandising, product management and development to align on design direction.
• Translate vision into compelling, market-ready designs that reflect Nike’s heritage and sport-forward ethos.
• Present vision and strategy to leaders and stakeholders across the organization.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring

Presentation skills

Storytelling

Communication

Soft skills

Creativity

People management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Apparel, Fashion Design or related field

Tools

Creative Suite

3D capabilities

Job description

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking a visionary leader to join our team as the Director of Olympics & Paralympic Apparel. The ideal candidate possesses an exceptional understanding of sport, innovation and culture. A passion for leading, managing and cultivating growth within the design team is essential. This role requires the ability to work cross-functionally, overseeing multiple projects simultaneously. A balanced approach, blending a process-oriented mindset with a discerning creative vision, is crucial for success in this position.

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking a visionary leader to join our team as the Director of Olympics & Paralympic Apparel. The ideal candidate possesses an exceptional understanding of sport, innovation and culture. A passion for leading, managing and cultivating growth within the design team is essential. This role requires the ability to work cross-functionally, overseeing multiple projects simultaneously. A balanced approach, blending a process-oriented mindset with a discerning creative vision, is crucial for success in this position.

What You Will Work On

As the Director of Olympics & Paralympics Apparel, you will play a pivotal role in driving our brand's overarching Innovation product vision through the lens of Sport. You will collaborate cross-functionally with business, development, and design partners across the women's category inclusive of footwear. You will present a vision and strategy for Olympics and Paralympics Apparel product to internal and external leadership. Your primary objective will be to translate this vision into compelling designs that serve athletes and the future of Sport.

Who You Will Work With

As the Director of Olympics & Paralympics Apparel, you will collaborate closely with various key stakeholders within our organization to bring the Olympics vision to life. You will also work with multiple Sport and Sportswear Apparel Design leaders to bring a holistic design vision to life for Olympic athletes. You will connect with various parts of the business from marketing to merchandising to product management and development.

Reporting Structure

You will report directly to the Senior Creative Director of the Olympics & Paralympics. In this role, you will align closely with senior leadership to ensure consistency and alignment with Nike's overall design strategy and goals.

Partnerships

Working closely with Design Directors across Innovation, Sport and Sportswear, you will ensure that the vision for Olympics Apparel aligns seamlessly with other product categories while delivering cutting-edge Nike product for the biggest moment in Sport- the Olympic Games. This collaboration is crucial for creating cohesive product ranges that resonate with Nike's target audience.

Team Leadership

You will oversee a team of four talented designers of various experience. Your role will involve providing support, encouragement, guidance and mentorship to foster their individual growth and development. Together, you will work as a cohesive unit to deliver innovative and sport-led designs that uphold Nike's heritage and reputation for excellence.

Collaborative Environment

You will be responsible for fostering a creative environment that brings clarity of Design vision, standards of excellence and ways of working. You will create a collaborative environment where ideas are shared freely, and creativity flourishes. You will also be responsible for cultivating collaboration across teams, elevating the best of Sport Design across the Nike matrix. By promoting open communication and mutual respect, you will empower your team to push boundaries and achieve outstanding results.

Career Development

Your role will include mentoring each designer on your team, helping them to develop their skills and advance in their careers within Nike, Inc. By providing constructive feedback and guidance, you will contribute to the professional growth of each team member.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s Degree in Apparel, Fashion Design or related field.

Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training.

• Minimum of 8+ years of relevant design work experience in a related field.
• Understanding of Enterprise vision.
• Experience working with athletes and translating insights into new industry-defining products.
• Profound knowledge of innovation and elevated craft.
• Deep understanding of make and manufacturing processes.
• Mastery of the creative process, guiding the team through all stages of design.
• Excellent storytelling skills.
• Mastery of presentation and communication skills.
• Ability to lead product creation while leveraging 3D capabilities.
• Proficiency in digital design software (Creative Suite).
• Proven ability to inspire and lead creative teams under high-pressur environments.
• Collaborative spirit with excellent soft skills and flexibility to manage multiple projects and cross-functional teams efficiently.
• A positive attitude with a love of Sport, product and people.

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.