Sr. Manager, Material Design - HOKA Footwear

The Senior Manager, Material Design for HOKA Footwear defines and drives the future of material innovation across the footwear portfolio, reporting to the Director, Materials Design. The role shapes the long-term material design vision, translating brand ambition into seasonally relevant, athlete-informed and commercially impactful product experiences. Sitting at the intersection of design, product and merchandising, it elevates footwear material and process as a strategic tool for driving emotion, storytelling and brand differentiation at scale.

• Lead seasonal material vision, design strategy and application direction for lifestyle and performance footwear.
• Define seasonal material palettes, expression frameworks and application strategies aligned with brand and consumer insights.
• Shape material design direction and dimensional strategy across product collections.
• Translate consumer trends and insights into compelling, trend-driven material narratives and storytelling.
• Refine and evolve existing material executions while pioneering new material innovation opportunities.
• Lead material design execution on strategic footwear priority projects, driving solutions from concept through execution.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners to deliver material and finish solutions.
• Serve as the material design expert at both product and collection level, influencing strategic decisions and design direction.
• Foster alignment across functions to deliver innovative material and finish solutions that support business and consumer objectives.
• Mentor design teams through material storytelling, design thinking and consumer-centred innovation.

• Bachelor's or master's degree in industrial design, material design, product design or a related field.
• 8+ years' experience in footwear material design, with a focus on lifestyle or performance categories.
• Advanced understanding of footwear material, construction and process (tooling and upper).
• Ability to interpret consumer insights and translate them into compelling product narratives.
• Skilled in concept creation and exploring material innovations.
• Experience building inspiration presentations and mood boards for seasonal concepts.
• Ability to edit and adjust shell patterns, create tech packs, and communicate creative and technical intent to internal and external development partners.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, PowerPoint, Miro or Lucid.
• Familiarity with generative AI platforms, such as Midjourney and Vizcom.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Expert-level knowledge of performance and lifestyle trends and the competitive landscape.

• In-office role based in Portland, Oregon.

• Competitive pay and bonuses, with a variety of compensation programs designed to foster career development and reward success.
• Financial planning and wellbeing plans that help employees protect income, pay for expenses and invest in the future.
• Time away from work to be with family, focus on health or recharge.
• Extras, discounts and perks, including generous discounts and community-based programs.
• Growth and development opportunities and support for personal and professional development.
• Comprehensive health and wellness programs and offerings supporting a healthy lifestyle at work and at play.