Senior Innovator, Innovation

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

As Senior Innovator, you will report directly to the Korea Innovation Director of Product Development, based in Busan. You’ll collaborate with Innovation Project Leaders and experts across engineering disciplines—Product, Tooling, Pattern, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Costing, Sustainability, Knit Engineering, Robotics, Process Optimization, and Product Development. You’ll work closely with Nike and its manufacturing partners in Korea, and have opportunities to engage with teams across Asia and the USA.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Nike is seeking a curious and driven Senior Innovator with deep experience in footwear development and manufacturing. The ideal candidate is a creative problem solver, agile learner, and strong team player who thrives in ambiguous environments and can deliver results across competing priorities. You are a self-starter, flexible thinker, and effective communicator, comfortable working cross-functionally and influencing diverse perspectives.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Design, Engineering, or related field
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in footwear product engineering, manufacturing, or development
• Strong material knowledge and fundamentals in footwear manufacturing and testing
• Experience with Microsoft Office, Adobe, 3D viewer, Air Table, Miro, etc.
• Strong organizational skills; ability to manage multiple engineering workstreams
• Proven storytelling and influencing skills to drive consensus and align stakeholders
• Demonstrated verbal and written English communication skills
• Ability to collaborate with internal and external partners to manage competing priorities

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

You will deliver disruptive innovations that bring new performance benefits, balancing goals for performance, manufacturability, cost, and sustainability. You’ll be the connective voice across multi-functional teams, driving product and process excellence from initial idea to physical samples, ensuring performance and manufacturing validation while maintaining vision and design intent.

• Navigate ambiguity and deliver disruptive innovations within performance, manufacturability, cost, and sustainability goals
• Serve as the connective voice across multi-functional teams from WHQ, development centers, and manufacturing centers
• Drive product and process excellence from concept to physical samples, including validation of performance and manufacturing
• Collaborate with product development, engineering, material, and chemical teams to commercialize product innovations
• Work with engineers and visual communicators to create comprehensive presentations and documentation
• Develop, lead, and implement high-profile program development initiatives and processes