WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

Our Director of Footwear Innovation Operations reports directly to the Senior Director of Operations, Portfolio & Activation within AIC and has three direct reports in support of the work. This leader works closely with a range of cross-functional teams including Product Creation, Materials, Design, and Cushioning Innovation to ensure products, capabilities, and enablers are ready for transition to the inline business functions.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for a Director who is able to navigate ambiguous situations with flexibility and creativity. They communicate clear direction and hold teammates accountable to drive progress while drawing on experience and intuition in recognizing when to be flexible. To succeed in this role, you must have the ability to understand, use, and manage emotions in a positive way when engaging with colleagues and leadership. This role requires the ability to work cross-functionally at the strategic level, while also diving into the details or the work when needed.

• 9+ years of direct experience in a Consumer Product develop and innovation organization, ideally in a people-leadership position.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence business partners across all organizational levels and functional backgrounds.
• Experience leading teams composed of diverse skillsets; mentoring and fostering an environment of continuous learning and growth.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in an ambiguous environment and navigating complex corporate structures.
• Proven track record resolving complex business issues and making sound decisions.
• Travel in this role is minimal and usually limited to no more than one domestic trip per year, and one international trip every 2-3 years.

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

As the lead of the Embedded Footwear Operations team within Nike’s Advanced Innovation Collective (AIC), you will lead and manage operational capabilities and execution in support of the Footwear Innovation organization’s portfolio. Our Director will drive the overall footwear innovation end-to-end process, manage and curate the innovation portfolio, and serve as the chief of staff to the VP of Footwear Innovation.

AMPLIFY THE FOOTWEAR PORTFOLIO, STRATEGY & OPERATING MODEL

• Provide a holistic view of the footwear portfolio (products, capabilities, and resources) with the ability to articulate clearly the aim and impact of the work via accurate data collection, visualization, and reporting.

• In partnership with the AIC Central Operations function, create and maintain portfolio-level reporting that provides visibility, simplifies complexity, and enables prioritization and decision making across the footwear innovation portfolio.

• Organize and drive milestone meetings including portfolio and readiness reviews. Identify meeting goals, agenda, and tools to guide portfolio conversations that support the balancing of the portfolio investment decisions against strategic goals and targets.

OWN & ACTIVATE THE PROCESS

• Refine and evolve milestone meetings, intake processes, and program readiness check-ins.

• Develop a cadence and process for program-level data collection and customized portfolio reporting. This data is collected and used to determine seasonal workload distribution which is summarized and communicated to leadership on a quarterly cadence. 

• Maintain consistent alignment with cross-functional partners and the Footwear Innovation leadership team, ensuring accurate portfolio detail, clear functional priorities, aligned resourcing needs, and project requests.

• Drive the end-to-end innovation product readiness process across the Footwear Innovation portfolio in support of collaboration and rigor.

ELEVATE THE FUNCTION

• Support the Footwear Innovation VP and LT, serving in a chief of staff capacity. Set weekly and monthly agendas. Prioritize discussion and decision points. Integrate and connect external stakeholders and partners.

• Building, maintaining, and regularly disseminate the master footwear innovation calendar, keeping everyone aligned to key gates and dates.

• As a manager of 3 team members, you will be responsible for individual and team goal setting each fiscal year. This includes following HR guidelines, being accountable for regular check-ins with your team, and ensuring that Fiscal Year goals are achieved.

• Develop and maintain relationships and partnerships that amplify capabilities. You will be responsible for connecting with your peer leads in the NSRL, Apparel, and Digital teams to share and learn best practices.  You will also connect regularly with the Central Operations team who are responsible for creating consistencies across all functions in AIC, and ensuring alignment on priorities as needed.