Lead Product Developer, Footwear Local Creation NA

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $113,900.00 in our lowest geographic market to $232,400.00 in our highest geographic market. Actual salary will vary based on a candidate's location, qualifications, skills and experience.

As part of the North America, Global Express Lane team, this role partners closely with key footwear functions including Color and Material Design, Material Development, Product Management, PCC/PMO, Global Product Teams, Sourcing, Planning, and Operations. You will navigate Nike’s matrixed environment to ensure alignment with Global Footwear Development standards and product excellence.

Serving as the primary liaison between PCC/PMO partners and the WHQ product team, you will drive clear, accurate communication throughout the product development process and report to the Footwear Development Director for North America, Local Creation.

We are seeking a Lead Footwear Product Developer to play a critical role on the North America, Local Creation Footwear Product Creation Team, driving product excellence for the North America consumer in a fast-paced, close-to-market environment. As a Lead Footwear Product Developer, this person will provide project and process direction, within the project team, at an accelerated pace and close to market.

The ideal candidate needs to have demonstrated project management, collaboration, and problem-solving skills in a product development environment. In addition, we are looking for people that are self-starters, quick learners, clear communicators, great teammates, and exhibit strong leadership skills. As a member of the North America Local Creation team, this person will effectively build relationships, lead, and interact with teams across Nike Footwear Product Creation and with teams comprising of diverse cultures across various geographies.

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Industrial Design, Engineering, Physical Sciences or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training
• 5+ years of Footwear Product Creation experience
• Lead footwear product development projects at an accelerated pace, close to market
• Provide project and process direction within cross-functional product creation teams
• Drive innovation and product initiatives across footwear dimensions and divisions
• Leverage deep technical knowledge across lasts, uppers, materials, tooling, costing, testing, and manufacturing
• Exhibit strong project management, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Communicate effectively across functions, geographies, and leadership levels
• Demonstrate resilient leadership with high tolerance for ambiguity and changing priorities
• Build strong partnerships across global, culturally diverse teams
• Balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution to deliver product excellence
• Travel up to 15% as needed

As a Lead Footwear Product Developer for North America Local Creation, you will lead footwear projects across Men’s, Women’s, and Kids, bringing ideas from 2D design and tech packs into 3D, market-ready samples. This role drives product and process excellence in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, ensuring projects deliver against design intent, performance, cost, sustainability, and timing expectations while meeting the needs of the North America consumer and Local Creation business strategy.

• Drive product and process excellence across assigned projects
• Develop Nike footwear through color, material, and graphic execution
• Solve construction and manufacturing challenges proactively
• Manage projects through all phases to meet critical dates
• Balance design, performance, cost, sustainability, and product integrity
• Partner cross-functionally to deliver consumer-relevant product