Leader of Design - Color & Concepts

Leader of Design, Color & Concepts: Based in Morgan Hill, CA

This is more than a design role—it’s your chance to help define the look and feel of the most innovative, highest-performing bikes in the world. At Specialized, every color, every line, every texture tells a story of innovation, craftsmanship, and performance. As the Leader of Design, Color & Concepts, you’ll help shape the visual identity of the bikes ridden by thousands and raced on the biggest stages in the world by the greatest athletes alive. You’ll lead the creative vision that captures Specialized’s performance DNA through color, material, and finish—bringing emotion, craft, and innovation together in perfect balance. From everyday rides to race-day execution, you’ll set the tone for how riders see and feel performance.

If you're a detail-oriented creative visionary who thrives on collaboration and is driven by the pursuit of perfection, this is your chance to leave a lasting impact on a brand at the forefront of cycling. Embrace the opportunity to immerse yourself in the work, get hands-on, and help riders around the world enhance their experiences. 

HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Design Leadership

• Collaborate closely with category and product owners to deliver a holistic CMF direction across bike and equipment.
• Edit and refine products throughout the creation, development, and production process to achieve brand and business objectives.

Team Building

• Create an atmosphere that fosters curiosity, innovative thinking, and collaboration in the service of delivering best-in-the-world products and experiences.
• Mentor the CMF design team and be the driving force for our CMF process and output.
• Attract and develop design talent both inside and outside the company.

Design Responsibilities

• Create clear design documents that visually communicate and articulate your design inspiration, concept and intent. Successfully share and present each idea to key stakeholders for cross functional alignment and buy in.
• Inject a modernized and youthful perspective to the use of all color, material, finish.
• Demonstrate a strong collaborative approach that welcomes feedback and successfully implements into your design work throughout the process.
• Define ownable textures and elements on product that make it uniquely specialized.
• Create, develop, and execute new tools across categories that help bring clarity and resolution to challenged conversations.

What You Need to Win

• Degree in Industrial Design, Graphic Design, or a related field. 
• Proficiency in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite and 3D modeling tools
• 10 years in Color, Material and Finish or like fields.
• Strong experience in building brand narratives through material and surface treatments
• Strong ability to communicate your design intent and vision physically and digitally
• An online portfolio with specific examples of high-quality design work
• Ability to bring clarity to complex conversations and product challenges
• Display and prove Specialized core competencies including curiosity, humility, team-focus, passion, and ownership
• Excellent at mentoring, collaborating and great interpersonal skills
• Exceptional visual communication skills and the ability to inspire teams through storytelling
• Ability to hit stringent deadlines while managing multiple projects
• Great vision with sensitivity to current trends
• Friendly, fun, hardworking, nurturing, courteous, and accessible
• Love bicycles