Head of Performance Footwear Design

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay and bonuses

Financial planning and wellbeing

Time away from work

Extras, discounts and perks

Growth and development

Health and wellness

Job summary

Deckers Brands’ HOKA Performance Footwear division seeks a Director of Design to lead the creative vision across racing, road, trail, training, and hiking. You will guide a team of designers, translate consumer insights into industry-leading products, and collaborate with cross-functional partners to deliver distinctive product experiences.

This leadership role emphasizes performance, storytelling, and visual identity, with a hybrid schedule in Portland, OR—typically 3 days in the office

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, 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, 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.
• Portfolio demonstrating creative excellence, performance problem solving, technical understanding, and product leadership.

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 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.

Skills

Footwear design

Leadership

Concept development

Product storytelling

Biomechanics knowledge

2D/3D design

Creative direction

Presentation skills

Collaboration across teams

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in industrial/product design

Tools

2D design tools

3D design tools

AI-enabled exploration tools

Job description

Deckers Brands’ HOKA Performance Footwear division seeks a Director of Design to lead the creative vision across racing, road, trail, training, and hiking. You will guide a team of designers, translate consumer insights into industry-leading products, and collaborate with cross-functional partners to deliver distinctive product experiences.

This leadership role emphasizes performance, storytelling, and visual identity, with a hybrid schedule in Portland, OR—typically 3 days in the office