PURPOSE & OVERALL RELEVANCE FOR THE ORGANISATION

The Design Director Footwear Innovation role requires a creative and motivated individual who can contribute to the design language of our products, support innovation, and collaborate across functions. The ideal candidate is entrepreneurial, forward-thinking, and passionate about creating cutting-edge solutions for athletes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

·    Contribute to implementing the Design Direction for adidas Innovation.
·    Lead a small team of designers to help establish and maintain a clear design language for our high-performance FTW concepts. 
·    Be at the global forefront of design trends and innovation as well as their application. 
·    Drive the conceptualization process within innovation design.
·    Be an active leader within innovation design to challenge conventions and bring newness to our concepts.
·    Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners to ensure alignment and cohesiveness in product development.
·    Foster a culture of creativity, collaboration, and excellence within the team.
·    Support design and material development, working closely with development partners to build high-performance prototypes.
·    Consider small-batch production and industrialization of concepts, ensuring speed of handover for online development.
·    Work with cross-functional innovation competencies to source and develop new ingredients for product innovation.
·    Work closely with athletes, engaging in dialogue to create tailored solutions.
·    Spend time with factories and suppliers to drive innovative solutions and generate intellectual property (IP) and novelty in design and manufacturing.
·    Collaborate with legal team to build a portfolio of patents and design registrations (IDFs).

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

·    Innovation Teams 
·    Creative Direction
·    Innovation Development
·    Different departments within Design

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

·    Strong portfolio demonstrating innovative product design and development within the FTW industry.
·    Entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for driving creativity and innovation.
·    Proven leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.
·    First experience in managing cross-functional teams and building relationships with athletes, suppliers, and partners, ideally across borders. 
·    Fluent in English (verbal and written).

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

·    Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or related field.
·    Minimum of 8 years of practical experience in design roles within the sporting goods or related industry.
·    At least 3 years experience of leading Footwear Design teams.