Sr Manager, Footwear Material Design

eTeam; Beaverton (OR); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Client’s Sports division in Beaverton, OR is seeking a Sr Manager, Footwear Material Design to lead material concepts for sport footwear. The role collaborates with design, color, and product teams to push innovative fabrics and construction.

You will shape direction, translate consumer insights into compelling product narratives, and mentor a team while managing partnerships with suppliers. A strong portfolio and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in design or equivalent education, experience, or training.
• 8+ years of relevant design experience in advancing material design, textile design, or footwear design
• Ability to interpret consumer insights and translate them into compelling product narratives
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• Experience creating inspiration presentations and mood boards for seasonal concepts

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with leadership and cross-functional teams to advance innovative materials and concepts.
• Shape design direction and dimensional strategy, elevating existing materials and pioneering new concepts.
• Translate consumer insights into compelling, trend- and performance-driven narratives.
• Integrate design, development, and manufacturing to achieve product excellence.

Skills

Adobe Creative Suite

Solution oriented

Education

Bachelor’s degree in design

Tools

Keynote

PowerPoint

Acrobat

Miro

Gravity Sketch

CLO

Job description

Job Title: Sr Manager, Footwear Material Design
Location: Beaverton, OR
Duration: 6 months
Hybrid: Mon – Thurs onsite, Fri remote

Job Description:

• Degree preferred, not a hard requirement
• 10+ years’ experience in footwear design preferred

Top must-have skills include the following:

• Adobe expertise
• Solution-oriented

Skills that would make a candidate stand out:

• Prior Client experience (or similar experience with a competitor)
• Consumer/market acumen
• ETW will be working closely with color teams, developers, merchandisers, project managers, and others on all cleated footwear product (training, golf footwear, etc.)
• Portfolios required with all submissions
• 1-2 rounds of interviews preferred

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• We’re looking for a Sr Manager, Footwear Material Design to combine their experience, problem solving abilities, and creativity to help build the future of Client Sport Footwear Material Design.
• The ideal candidate will elevate the Client consumer product experience by seamlessly integrating art, science, and street wear culture into Sport leaning products.
• In this role, you will foster a deep emotional connection to our products by crafting compelling narratives and storytelling through innovative material concepts.

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON

• As the Sr Manager, Footwear Material Design, you will collaborate closely with leadership and cross-functional teams—including Footwear Product Designers, Color Design, Developers, and Product Line Managers to advance innovative materials and manufacturing approaches on strategic projects.
• Your focus will be on shaping design direction and dimensional strategy, elevating existing materials, and pioneering new material concepts.
• As a recognized expert at both the product and collection level, you will translate consumer insights into compelling, trend and performance driven narratives.
• Success in this position depends on integrating design, development, and manufacturing to achieve product excellence.
• By leveraging research and a deep understanding of youth culture, color trends, fashion, art, and sports, you will help position Client at the forefront of material innovation.

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

• On a day to day basis you’ll work closely with your design partners in product design, color design and graphic design.
• You will also work cross functionally with your technical and material development partners, product management and merchandising teams.

WHAT YOU BRING

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree in design or equivalent education, experience, or training.

EXPERIENCE:

• 8+ years of relevant design experience in advancing material design, textile design, or footwear design
• Bachelor’s degree in design, art, or related field (fashion, product, industrial, accessory, footwear, or textile design); Master’s degree accepted, Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training
• Ability to interpret consumer insights and translate them into compelling product narratives
• Skilled in concept creation and exploring material innovations and technologies
• Experience building inspiration presentations and mood boards for seasonal concepts
• Understanding of the Footwear Product Creation process
• Experience collaborating with manufacturing partners to ensure design intent and material execution
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• Experienced with presentation programs: Keynote, PowerPoint, Acrobat, Miro etc.
• Ability to ideate using digital platforms (Gravity Sketch, CLO a plus)
• Experience creating 3D samples and hand mockups (a plus)
• Strong presentation skills for small and large groups
• Collaborative, positive, good listener, receptive to candid feedback and diverse points of view.
• Passion for design, culture, and design excellence.
• Highly organized and self-sufficient
• Speaks up with courage for self and the team.
• Passion for and desire to learn people leadership.