Director, Footwear Research Nike Sports Research Lab - Innovation

About the role

The Nike Sport Research Lab is a multidisciplinary team of researchers, innovators, and scientists who lead with science to make athletes measurably better. The NSRL Footwear Research team conducts research that provides insights leading to innovative footwear and measurable benefits for athletes. This Director manages researchers and collaborates with Innovation Product Creation, Mechanical and Materials Testing, technical teams, stakeholders, and external research partners, reporting to the Sr. Director, Applied Footwear Research.

Nike is looking for a versatile, creative leader with deep expertise in footwear science, research methods, and advanced data analysis tools, who will help shape product innovations across sport. You will lead a research team of technical biomechanics experts who turn complex research insights into clear strategies, validated assessments, and actionable product concepts. You will bring the scientific judgment to protect research integrity while responding to business and product creation needs, partner with Principal Researchers to lead interdisciplinary teams through aggressive timelines, align stakeholders around a shared vision, and communicate technical findings to diverse, nontechnical audiences. You will build strong relationships, set priorities, and create the conditions for researchers and partners to deliver their best work.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in human movement science, biomechanics, kinesiology, engineering, biomedical engineering, ergonomics, or related field (or any suitable combination of education, experience, and training)
• 10+ years of relevant experience
• Deep understanding of footwear science and demonstrated ability to turn research insights into program or product concepts
• Experience leading interdisciplinary teams, aligning stakeholders, and delivering projects or products on aggressive timelines
• Demonstrated ability to balance research integrity with business needs and communicate complex scientific subjects to nontechnical audiences

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of technical biomechanics experts, aligning work within collaborative research programs that turn scientific insight into better footwear
• Set priorities, align partners, and help build the research capabilities needed to advance high-performance product
• Manage and mentor a team of technical researchers, including setting business goals, advancing skills and methodologies, and supporting career development
• Report to the Sr. Director, Footwear Research, and help set strategy, communicate progress against initiatives, and serve as a link between cross-functional disciplines within the Sport Research Lab
• In partnership with Principal Researchers, manage testing and research requests and prioritize work where scientific insights can help teams tune concepts, components, and prototypes
• Oversee internal and external research that answers critical questions for product creation teams