Sr. Manager, Material Design - HOKA Footwear

At Deckers Brands, Together, Every Step is a promise kept that every employee can bring their authentic self, is valued and supported, as a whole person, at work and beyond. Together, Every Step is how we continue to deliver exceptional business results, experience an amazing place to work, and have a positive impact on the communities and world around us. 

Job Title: Sr. Manager, Material Design - HOKA Footwear

Reports to:  Director, Materials Design

Location: Portland, OR (In Office)

The Role

As Sr Manager, Material Design for HOKA Footwear, you will define and drive the future of material innovation across our footwear portfolio. This strategic leadership role shapes the long-term material design vision, translating brand ambition into seasonally relevant, athlete-informed, and commercially impactful product experiences. You’ll pioneer innovative material concepts, processes, and storytelling that deliver meaningful newness, increase speed to market, and unlock growth opportunities. Sitting at the intersection of design, product, and merchandising, you elevate footwear material and process as a strategic tool, driving emotion, storytelling, and brand differentiation at scale.

We celebrate diversity--of your background, your experiences and your unique identity. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and equitable workplace where all of our employees can Come as They Are. We believe that when we bring our different perspectives to work, we are truly Better Together.

Your Impact

• 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 the 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-centered innovation

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in industrial design, material design, product design, or 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 + 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/adjust shell patterns, create tech packs, and communicate creative + technical intent to internal and external development partners
• Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, PowerPoint, Miro or Lucid
• Familiarity with generative AI platforms (e.g., Midjourney, Vizcom)
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Expert level knowledge of performance and lifestyle trends and competitive landscape

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.

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

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Diversity and inclusion are key to our success. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and our employees are people with different strengths, experiences and backgrounds who share a passion for our brands. We welcome qualified applicants regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, military or veteran status, mental or physical disability, medical condition and all the other beautiful parts of your identity.