Deckers Brands

Director, Design - HOKA Performance Footwear

Deckers Brands$154K — $208K *
Retail & Consumer Goods
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in industrial design, product design, or related field.
  • 10+ years of footwear design experience, preferably across performance categories.
  • 3+ years of leadership or mentoring experience in footwear design.
  • Strong experience in leading footwear from concept through commercialization.
  • Deep creative proficiency in footwear design and visual storytelling.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the creative vision for HOKA Performance Footwear across multiple categories.
  • Develop unique product concepts and enhance HOKA's performance identity.
  • Transform athlete insights and cultural trends into innovative product experiences.
  • Guide a high-performing team with mentorship and creative direction.
  • Collaborate across different teams to realize category visions and product goals.

Benefits

  • Competitive compensation programs that reward achievements and support career growth.
  • Financial planning support to help employees reach their financial goals.
  • Generous paid time off for personal health and family needs.
  • Employee discounts and community programs as part of the company culture.
  • Extensive professional development opportunities to enhance personal and career growth.
  • Comprehensive health and wellness programs to support a healthy lifestyle.
Full Job Description
Job Title: Director, Design - HOKA Performance Footwear

Reports to: Sr. Director, Footwear Design - HOKA

Location: Portland, OR (Hybrid)

Typically 3 times per week in office, Tuesday - Thursday

The Role

As the Director, Performance Footwear Design - HOKA, you will lead the creative vision and design execution for HOKA's Racing, Road, Trail, Training, and Hiking footwear categories. You'll inspire breakthrough product concepts, elevate design craft, and shape the future expression of HOKA Performance Footwear. Your leadership will guide a team of designers in creating innovative, athlete-informed footwear solutions that blend performance, storytelling, and distinctive visual identity. You'll collaborate across Product Management, Innovation, Development, Engineering, CMG, and Digital partners to translate consumer insight and emerging opportunities into industry-leading products.

Your Impact
  • Define and drive the creative vision for HOKA Performance Footwear across Racing, Road, Trail, Training, and Hiking categories.
  • Create distinctive product concepts, design languages, branding, and franchise strategies that strengthen HOKA's performance leadership.
  • Translate athlete insight, cultural shifts, and emerging opportunities into compelling product experiences.
  • Champion a "Best Possible" design mindset, balancing innovation, performance, usability, and aesthetic expression.
  • Partner with Color, Material, Graphic, and Digital teams to deliver cohesive and inspiring product stories.
  • Protect strong design intent across silhouette, proportion, details, construction, and athlete experience.
  • Inspire and develop a high-performing team of footwear designers through creative leadership, coaching, and mentorship.
  • Foster a culture of creativity, curiosity, craft, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  • Elevate team capability in concept creation, design storytelling, technical design, and innovation.
  • Partner with the Sr. Director to recruit, develop, and retain top design talent.
  • Create clarity around seasonal priorities, standards, reviews, and deliverables.
  • Partner across Product, Innovation, Development, Engineering, CMG, Digital, and Merchandising to bring category visions to life.
  • Influence briefs, innovation opportunities, and seasonal priorities through a design-led perspective.
  • Protect and elevate design intent from concept through commercialization.
  • Communicate compelling design narratives at key reviews and leadership forums.
  • Maintain a sharp view of the competitive landscape to inspire innovation and differentiation.


Who You Are
  • Bachelor's or master's degree in industrial design, product design, or related field.
  • 10+ years of footwear design experience, preferably across racing, road, trail, training, hiking, or outdoor performance categories.
  • 3+ years leading, managing, or mentoring footwear designers.
  • Strong experience leading footwear from concept through commercialization.
  • Experience partnering across design, product, development, innovation, engineering, merchandising, and brand teams within a global product creation model.
  • Deep creative strength in footwear design, concept development, product storytelling, and visual expression.
  • Strong understanding of performance footwear needs across running, racing, trail, training, hiking, and outdoor use.
  • Ability to translate athlete insight, consumer need, and competitive landscape into distinctive product direction.
  • Strong knowledge of biomechanics, construction, proportion, midsole and outsole design, materials, fit, ride, and performance benefit.
  • Advanced technical drawing, visual communication, and presentation skills.
  • Ability to inspire teams through clear creative direction, constructive feedback, and high design standards.
  • Strong understanding of digital design tools and modern creative workflows, including 2D, 3D, and AI-enabled exploration.
  • Portfolio demonstrating creative excellence, performance problem solving, technical understanding, and product leadership.


What We'll Give You -
  • Competitive Pay and Bonuses - We've created a variety of competitive compensation programs to foster career development, reward success and to show our employees just how much they're valued.
  • Financial Planning and wellbeing - No matter what financial goals our employees have set, we want to help them get there. Our plans provide powerful ways to protect income, pay for expenses and invest in the future.
  • Time away from work - Sometimes we need time away to be with family, focus on our health or just simply recharge. Our plans support our employees' needs to get out, get healthy and come back stronger than ever.
  • Extras, discounts and perks - Being a valued member of the Deckers Brands team means more than just a paycheck. From generous discounts to community-based programs, we offer a variety of cool extras
  • Growth and Development - Deckers Brands was built on the idea of pursuing passion. That's why we offer extensive opportunities and support for personal and professional development.
  • Health and Wellness - There's nothing basic about our comprehensive health and wellness programs and offerings. While at work and at play, we aim to support a healthy lifestyle.


$154,700.00 - $208,800.00

The salary range posted reflects the estimated minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for this role in:
Portland, Oregon

Individual pay will be determined by location and additional factors, including job related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary for your preferred location during the hiring process.

About Deckers Brands

Deckers Brands is a global leader in designing, marketing, and distributing innovative footwear, apparel, and accessories developed for both everyday casual lifestyle use and high-performance activities. The Company's portfolio of brands includes UGG®, KOOLABURRA®, HOKA ONE ONE®, Teva®, and Sanuk®. Deckers Brands products are sold in more than 50 countries and territories through select department and specialty stores, Company-owned and operated retail stores, and select online stores, including Company-owned websites. Deckers Brands has a 40-year history of building niche footwear brands into lifestyle market leaders attracting millions of loyal consumers globally. To learn more about Deckers Brands, visit www.deckers.com.
Learn more about Deckers Brands
Size
4,000 employees
Market Cap
$10.4 billion
Industry
Net Income
$365.2 million
Founded
1973
5 Year Trend
+12%
Revenue
$2.3 billion
NASDAQ

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