Lead Designer, Performance - HOKA Apparel & Accessories

Deckers Brands; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Bonuses

Financial planning

Time off

Employee discounts

Growth opportunities

Health & wellness

Job summary

Deckers Brands in Portland, OR invites a Lead Designer for HOKA Apparel & Accessories (Performance) to shape creative direction and drive product initiatives. You will translate brand direction into trend-driven designs, collaborating with athletes, influencers, and cross-functional teams from concept through samples.

You’ll work hybrid, with leadership oversight, design tech packs, materials, and pricing constraints while staying ahead of market trends and delivering compelling, commercially

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Design or equivalent.
• 5–10 years of apparel design experience with a strong portfolio in performance apparel.
• Expert understanding of construction and process for performance apparel.
• Proven ability to communicate at a high level with athletes and influencers.
• Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Keynote, and PowerPoint; 3D rendering software experience is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of current consumer and market trends, with the ability to translate insights into product design.

Responsibilities

• Design performance apparel and accessories aligned with HOKA’s creative direction and brand vision.
• Proactively propose ideas, develop concepts, sketches, and product ideation for assigned categories within established deadlines.
• Collaborate with product and development teams to select materials and design products within pricing goals.
• Create artwork, flat sketches, and technical details for development and tech/spec packages.
• Support design leadership with tech pack creation, merch board updates, and artwork schematics.
• Communicate effectively with high-profile athletes and influencers to inform design direction.
• Contribute to seasonal inspiration planning and attend seasonal kickoff events.
• Coordinate with internal and external partners to ensure timely sample access, ordering, and delivery.
• Stay current on consumer and market trends, interpreting them into commercial product solutions.

Skills

Apparel design

Athlete communication

Trend analysis

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Keynote

PowerPoint

3D rendering

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Keynote

PowerPoint

3D rendering software

Job description

Job Title

Lead Designer, Performance - HOKA Apparel & Accessories

Reports To

Director, Design - HOKA Apparel

Location

Portland, OR. Hybrid – Typically 3 times per week in office, Tuesday – Thursday

The Role

As a Lead Designer for HOKA Apparel & Accessories (Performance), you’ll bring creative vision and technical expertise to a diverse range of performance products. You’ll work closely with high-profile athletes and influencers, translating brand and category direction into innovative, trend-driven designs. You’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure products meet creative, commercial, and cost goals, while supporting the design process from concept through to final samples.

Company Culture

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

• Design performance apparel and accessories that align with HOKA’s creative direction and brand vision
• Proactively propose ideas, develop concepts, sketches, and product ideation for assigned categories within established deadlines
• Collaborate with product and development teams to select materials and design products within pricing goals
• Create artwork, flat sketches, and technical details for development and tech/spec packages
• Support design leadership with tech pack creation, merch board updates, and artwork schematics
• Communicate effectively with high-profile athletes and influencers to inform design direction
• Contribute to seasonal inspiration planning and attend seasonal kickoff events
• Coordinate with internal and external partners to ensure timely sample access, ordering, and delivery
• Stay current on consumer and market trends, interpreting them into commercial product solutions
• Participate in all design-related travel, including seasonal kickoffs and inspiration trips

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Design or equivalent work experience
• 5–10 years of experience in apparel design, with a strong portfolio in performance apparel
• Expert understanding of construction and process for performance apparel
• Proven ability to communicate at a high level with athletes and influencers
• Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Keynote, and PowerPoint; 3D rendering software experience is a plus
• Strong knowledge of current consumer and market trends, with the ability to translate insights into product design

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.
• $130,000 - $140,000/year 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.

More than Just a Footwear Company

From our corporate offices to our global retail stores, there’s a curious, independent spirit that’s distinctively Deckers Brands. We’re about giving people the freedom to pursue their passions. And we’re committed to helping them succeed; to become their best selves. That’s why we’re about more than work, the 9 to 5 or daily grind. We’re about opportunity - opportunity to create, to grow and to have an impact. As we work to become better at everything we do, how we better the world matters, too. Our products and brands are loved, no doubt about it. But the difference we make in people’s lives begins with our people, right here at Deckers Brands. We’re adventurous, spirited, unafraid of new challenges and willing to take chances. We are always ready to rally around a cause. Put simply, we want all of our people to thrive - to reach their full potential and have fun while doing it. Because in the end, Deckers thrives when our people thrive.