WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH
The candidate will report directly to the Korea Innovation Director of Product Development, located in Busan, Korea. They will work alongside Innovation leadership to identify and drive key initiatives that strengthen the organization. They will also work with individual contributors with expertise in various engineering disciplines, including Tooling, Pattern, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Costing, Sustainability, Knit Engineering, Robotics, Process Optimization, and Product Development. Primarily, the candidate will collaborate with Nike and its manufacturing partner teams in Korea, while also having opportunities to work with teams across Asia and the USA.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
NIKE, Inc. is searching for a curious and driven Principal Innovator, NXT Footwear to join their team in Busan, South Korea. The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience and a thorough understanding of Footwear Development & Manufacturing processes as experts level program leaders. They should also be adept at thinking outside the box to develop innovative solutions that streamline manufacturing and enhance performance and footwear fit. A self-starter, flexible thinker, and effective communicator, the candidate must be comfortable working cross-functionally and capable of influencing diverse personalities and perspectives. These skills are essential for collaborating across the Innovation team and various functions within Nike's matrixed organization to resolve complex issues. Proficiency in program leadership, an innovation mindset, data-driven decision-making, creativity, and the ability to challenge conventional methods are highly valued.
- Bachelor's degree in an Business, Design, Engineering, or related field with a minimum of 8 years of experience in footwear product development, engineering or manufacturing.
- In addition to skills in program leadership, effective communication, material knowledge, fundamentals in footwear manufacturing, and understanding of footwear testing, we look for candidates who are strong team players, creative problem solvers, agile learners, strategic mindset and people leaders who can work through ambiguity and competing priorities to successfully deliver results.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple development work streams simultaneously.
- Experience in using software in Microsoft Office, Adobe, 3D viewer, Air Table, Miro etc.
- Demonstrated verbal and written English communication and storytelling skills to clearly articulate goals and objectives and facilitate meetings. Proven storytelling and influencing skills to engage and influence others, create impact, drive consensus, and align stakeholders.
WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON
As a Principal Innovator, you will be responsible to:
- Navigate ambiguity and deliver disruptive innovations that bring new performance benefits within our goals for performance, manufacturability, cost, and sustainability.
- Be the connective voice across multi-functional teams from WHQ, development centers, and manufacturing centers.
- Work with these multi-functional teams to drive product and process excellence from initial idea to into physical samples, inclusive of performance and manufacturing validation, while maintaining the vision and design intent.
- Collaborate with product development, functional engineering, material and chemical teams to commercialize product innovations.
- Collaborate with engineers and visual communicators to create comprehensive presentations and documentation.
- Develop, lead, and implement high-profile program development initiatives and processes.
- Drive new initiatives and contribute to the development of NXT FW strategy.
Nike Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Nike and has not been reviewed or approved by Nike.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with a company match is complemented by options such as a Mega Backdoor Roth and deferred compensation for eligible earners. Financial coaching and structured savings programs support long-term financial security.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — An Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a stock discount sits alongside broad-based equity vehicles like RSUs and non-qualified stock options. These avenues expand wealth-building opportunities beyond base pay.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave includes maternity and paternity time, recently expanded in the U.S. to 16 weeks and extended to part-time retail teammates. Additional supports include childcare assistance at select locations and family-building benefits such as fertility, surrogacy, and adoption.
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What We Do
At NIKE, Inc., we innovate to serve athletes*. Every teammate - from coder to creator - plays a role in making these athletes’ dreams real. Our tech, data, and digital teams push limits every day, building the future of sport and the tools that drive it. Here, curiosity is fuel. Innovation is the game plan. Different perspectives keep us on the offense. You’ll solve challenges worth tackling, grow fast and belong to a team that backs you to do the right thing. Bring your drive. Bring your bold. Let’s move the world, together. Take your first step at nike.com/careers * If you have a body, you’re an athlete.
Why Work With Us
At NIKE, Inc., your dedication fuels the future of sport. There is a sense of pride that comes from representing an iconic brand and shaping its future. Here, we treat every day as a new opportunity to push boundaries, ask tough questions and share whole-hearted convictions. We are a team – united by the belief that anything is possible.
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