Materials Developer

Manager Notes:

• This position is onsite WHQ for the hybrid work schedule.
• Previous Nike experience is not required but they must have product creation industry experience. Please submit local candidates only.
• This role will require constant engagement with many cross-functional partners. Candidates will need to be comfortable interacting with teammates of diverse backgrounds and cultural differences.
• For candidates that don't have a technical materials background, I'm open to individuals with strong project management & data analysis skills.
• Org/ Team info - Footwear (IMPACT)
• Education - Bachelor's degree required**
• Non-negotiables - Top 3 skills
  1. Understands product creation process (taking ideas and transferring them into 3d samples)
  2. Ability to interrupt, organize, and make sense of COMPLEX data = can dilute into digestible pieces of wisdom
  3. Comfortable interacting with different teams and people (collaborative)

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are seeking a Footwear Materials Developer II with technical expertise to help drive product excellence through materials for footwear products. You will provide tools, palettes, and data across multiple material types to enable effective material selection for end-use and category ease of use. You will act as the bridge between what we hope to deliver aesthetically and what comes to life. You will present facts and solutions clearly, with category & consumer in mind, so the team can make informed decisions!

WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON

As a member of the Materials Development team, you will be focused on driving functional excellence and material readiness with a sharp focus on execution of material creation, material sourcing, cost, quality, and implementation of sustainable solutions. Materials Development collaborates with vendors, product creation, and other functions in order to establish seasonal material direction, attain on-time delivery, and ensure product excellence for both consumers and athletes.

• Working on complex footwear projects, you will convert a project brief and a 2D design rendering into a 3D sample that meets the needs of the consumer as well as the needs of the business.
• You will utilize your knowledge and experience to enhance product excellence.
• You will engage in all phases of the product process to ensure projects are managed according to critical dates and completed on time, while meeting design intent, performance goals, costing/profitability and sustainability targets.
• You will ensure that your projects are ready for the commercialization process and can ultimately be manufactured.

WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH

You will partner with Product Development, Design, Engineering, Material Planning & Supply Chain to provide transparency when issues or concerns arise, and you'll collaborate on a resolution. You'll serve as the primary contact for vendors as it relates to category specific issues (price, technical specs, performance). You will collaborate with product creation team, innovation and sourcing to provide training and education as well as standard methodologies to enable informed decision making.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelor's Degree in Materials, Chemistry, Product Development or Product Engineering, Manufacturing, Marketing, Industrial Design or equivalent combination of education, experience or training
• Minimum of 2 years directly applicable work experience
• High communication and influencing skills, including the ability to interact with leadership and cross functional product creation team members
• Knowledge of footwear material types including fibers, yarns, textiles, leathers, synthetic leathers, components or trims, manufacturing technologies and equipment, tooling, and materials is highly preferred
• Understanding of various product Materials manufacturing processes required
• Ability to translate lab testing results for end-use application
• Ability to interpret design intent and offer alternative solutions
• Ability to anticipate needs, mitigate risks, and solve problems
• Attention to detail, active follow-through, assertiveness, self-motivation and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to balance multiple competing projects and independently manage workload
• Solid digital literacy with working knowledge of MS office software; material management systems experience preferred