Senior Footwear Designer

Reebok is a global brand that creates and markets sports and lifestyle products upon an authenticity in sports, fitness, and women’s categories. The brand is committed to designing products and marketing programs that reflect creativity.

We are seeking a senior footwear designer who has the ability to create compelling designs that sit at the intersection of sport and fashion for our Training category. A passion for sport and fashion as well as a hyper-awareness of the competitive landscape are all essential – a strong feel for trends, both product and style, is integral. You will work as part of a small team including footwear and graphic designers within seasonal design themes to create statement, brand-driving products as well as to challenge and create volume product that keep the lights burning. We will also look for you to help identify opportunities to connect apparel and footwear collections through common elements and stories. You will have a solid track record of working successfully on multi-disciplinary design teams. An understanding of performance footwear needs, materials, and be up to speed with new production processes will all be key. We’re seeking a person with a positive and professional attitude, a strong sense of team spirit, a history of taking initiative, and who shows strong technical capabilities with an understanding of manufacturing – as well as a desire to challenge convention. We are also looking for someone willing to take on the role of leader and mentor to junior designers.

* Design footwear products in accordance to the specific product brief and with the Reebok Product Creation calendar so that work is completed in a timely manner. * Understand the needs of the global training consumer by working closely with those consumers at all levels of ability as well as our consumer insights team. * Understand and be able to design and spec materials/treatments/components that enhance the performance of the shoe for the consumer at all levels. * Work closely with Development and Product marketing to ensure that new designs meet the needs of the product brief and are manufacturable. * Understand Reebok’s technologies and incorporate these into products where applicable. * Ensure that each product from entry level to high end has meaningful features and benefits that allow the consumer to reach their full athletic potential. * Understand how colors, graphics, materials and treatments can impact product and develop creative ways to apply these to Reebok’s footwear in an innovative manner. * Understand Reebok’s competitor’s products at all price points. * Mentor Designer(s) so that their footwear projects fall within the established timelines to meet the product creation calendar and to develop their skills to take on more technically challenging projects. * Attend material trade shows to understand what new materials, components and treatments are available for footwear. * Travel with the team (development, product marketing) whenever possible to gather information about the consumers or to work on products at the development centers, footwear factories or component/material suppliers. * When time allows pursue new concepts that would be considered breakthrough technologies for Reebok. * Strong participation within the creative group with ideas, concepts, stories and new initiatives. * Work with the entire team to maintain goals and the direction that the team leadership has established. * Assist the Design Director with leading the group and maintaining goals.

Qualifications * 8+ years of footwear design experience * Advanced level Adobe Illustrator; Photoshop and 3D software a plus * Understanding of materials and their application to footwear designs; understanding of material development processes and footwear construction * Well established knowledge of the footwear manufacturing process * Strong team player as well as the ability to work independently * Ability to manage more junior members’ workload and timelines as needed and escalate deadline issues to the Design Manager and Director * Strong negotiating and influencing skills * Presentation and Storytelling skills * Bachelors degree in product, industrial, automotive or interior design