Manager, Footwear Innovation Development - Athlete

At Brooks, we believe movement is the key to feeling more alive. That’s why we’re driven to create gear and experiences that take people to the place that makes them feel more alive — whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line.

Everyone who works at Brooks is propelled by a company culture that sparks excitement, fuels collaboration, inspires creativity, and ignites innovation.

Our brand values help bond us together and drive our success:

• Runner First

We act in the best interest of the runner

• Word is Bond

We do what we say we’ll do

• Champion Heart

We give our all in everything we do

• There is no “I” in Run

We stay generous with our humanity

• Keep Moving

We find ways to move every day, because joy is kinetic!

We welcome everyone from every walk of life looking to inspire others through the power of movement - because we’re all moving towards something. Let’s run there.

Job Requirements

The Manager, Product Development, Footwear Innovation leads the footwear innovation development team in bringing athlete-focused products from concept through production. Working closely with cross-functional product creation teams across the US, Asia, and factory partners, you will guide the development process and ensure products consistently meet or exceed our standards for quality, fit, feel, ride, and performance for athletes through commercialization handoff.

You will generate and communicate ideas grounded in engineering principles to solve problems for athletes, enhance footwear performance, and improve manufacturing efficiency, while applying strong problem-solving, decision-making, presentation, and communication skills.

You will connect the team’s work to broader business priorities and strategy, coach team members through assigned projects, and support their career development. In partnership with the Senior Manager, Footwear Innovation, you will help guide the team toward company objectives while building strong relationships with internal and external partners. Success in this role requires a collaborative leader who recognizes that teamwork is essential to Brooks culture.

Product Development & Technical Execution

• Lead thought around footwear innovation and problem solving for athletes and achieve on-time delivery in terms of seasonal calendars with high-level understanding of the concepts of footwear creation process-pattern engineering (pattern making, block system and grade rule), model making, costing implications, materials application.
• Lead meetings with cross-functional teams during various phases to review and evaluate issues and drive action plans with an in-depth knowledge of manufacturing process and the ability to learn new manufacturing techniques and lead implementation to apply them to products;
• Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills with persistent questioning to find out the “whys?” and be proficient at problem solving for development or production issues - understanding the upstream and downstream effects;
• Effectively communicate with Asia and US teams on any issues and viable solutions for construction, cost and aesthetics.
• Lead the innovation development team to ensure that products are manufacturable and meet highest level of performance
  , quality and fit expectations.

People Management & Team Development

• Manage team members (including goal setting, performance review, hiring decisions, team culture, etc.) and encourage team members to actively engage in questions, research, observing, networking and experimenting to inform project and program direction.
• Provide training and coaching for the developers to build their skill sets and develop opportunities for them to grow their career.

Partnerships & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Develop strong working relationship with…