Senior Manager, Apparel Designer, Create, Local Creation NA

Nike Inc; Beaverton (OR); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Nike Inc. is seeking an experienced design leader to build an emotional connection with North American consumers through powerful narratives and standout products.

You will guide creative teams, translate seasonal direction into cohesive apparel and graphic designs, and ensure high-quality execution from concept to production. You will lead North America Local Creation apparel design, collaborating with cross-functional partners to deliver culturally relevant, commercially compelling narratives

Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant design experience in apparel, graphic design, or a related field.
• Demonstrated people-leadership experience, including the ability to coach, direct, and inspire creative teams.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and experience using three-dimensional capabilities in product creation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative direction for apparel across North America Local Creation and multiple categories.
• Translate brand and business priorities into seasonal product narratives and close-to-market design solutions.
• Lead apparel, graphic design, and production art teams from concept through execution, setting a high creative bar.
• Partner with Design, Product Management, Development, Footwear, and business leaders to turn creative vision into product at scale.
• Build alignment across functions and geographies while moving complex workstreams forward with clarity and speed.
• Collaborate with Local Creation design counterparts and global designers to deliver cohesive solutions.
• Create trend-relevant product for North American consumers while honoring Nike’s heritage and pushing the brand forward.

Skills

Design leadership

Storytelling & narratives

Brand alignment

Creative direction

Education

Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or related field

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

3D design capabilities

Job description

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

This role reports to the North America Local Creation Apparel Design Director who leads apparel cut-and-sew, graphic design, and production art. The team partners across footwear, product management, development, merch, global geographies, as well as color, material, and graphic teams to create distinctive, consumer-relevant product.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Nike is looking for an experienced design leader who can build an emotional connection with North American consumers through powerful narratives and exceptional product. This leader brings a strong point of view across fashion, streetwear, sport, and innovation, pairing elevated creative standards with the ability to guide teams and complex workstreams with clarity and pace. They understand apparel and graphic manufacturing processes, master every stage of the process, and translate seasonal direction into cohesive products and collections. As an inspiring people leader, they communicate ideas through compelling stories and presentations, build alignment across diverse partners, and help creative teams deliver their best work in high-pressure environments. They also bring the digital fluency to advance product creation through 3D design capabilities and Adobe Creative Suite.

• A creative design portfolio is required. Applicants must provide a website link or attach a PDF portfolio when applying.
• 8+ years of relevant design experience in apparel, graphic design, or a related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training.
• Demonstrated people-leadership experience, including the ability to coach, direct, and inspire creative teams.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and experience using three-dimensional capabilities in product creation.

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

You will set the creative direction for North America Local Creation apparel across Nike and Jordan. Working from concept through execution, you will turn brand and business priorities into product narratives that are culturally relevant, commercially compelling, and unmistakably Nike.

• Lead the creative direction for apparel cut-and-sew across multiple North American categories.
• Translate brand and business priorities into seasonal product narratives, collections, and close-to-market design solutions.
• Lead apparel, graphic design, and production art teams from concept through execution, setting a high creative bar and supporting their best work.
• Partner closely with Design, Product Management, Development, Footwear, and business leaders to turn creative vision into product at scale.
• Build alignment across functions, categories, geographies, and Nike creative leadership while moving complex workstreams forward with clarity and speed.
• Collaborate with Local Creation design counterparts and global Material, Color, and Graphics designers to deliver cohesive solutions.
• Create trend-relevant product for North American consumers while honoring Nike’s heritage and pushing the brand forward.

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. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.