Footwear Innovation Lab Instructor

About the role

The Lundquist College of Business is accredited by AACSB International and offers a 18-month Master of Science in Sports Product Management (SPM) program in Portland, Oregon. The Footwear Innovation Lab Instructor plays a critical role in delivering this experience by guiding students through the full footwear product creation lifecycle—from concept to sales sample.

Responsibilities

• Deliver hands-on instruction in footwear design, development, and construction
• Lead student teams through the end-to-end product development process
• Support and maintain a safe, innovative, and fully operational lab environment
• Integrate digital tools (CAD, Adobe Suite, AI) into modern product creation workflows

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in Footwear Design, Industrial Design, or related field, and 7 years of relevant experience OR a Master’s degree in Footwear Design, Industrial Design, or related field, and 5 years of relevant experience.
• Strong collaboration and teamwork across faculty, staff, and students
• High level of technical proficiency in footwear creation and lab equipment
• Commitment to safety and operational excellence
• Excellent communication (written, verbal, presentation)
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills in a dynamic environment
• Professionalism and customer-service orientation when engaging students, partners, and visitors
• Ability to model ethical behavior and support the mission of the university

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field (Business or Design preferred)
• Experience teaching in higher education or professional training environments
• Knowledge of the global sports product industry
• Strong knowledge of:
• Footwear construction and manufacturing processes
• Materials (leathers, synthetics, meshes, foams, rubbers, etc.)
• Prototyping techniques and lab equipment
• Proficiency in digital tools (CAD software, Adobe Suite; familiarity with AI tools preferred)

Skills

• Strong collaboration and teamwork across faculty, staff, and students
• Ability to translate industry practice into effective teaching
• High level of technical proficiency in footwear creation and lab equipment
• Commitment to safety and operational excellence
• Excellent communication (written, verbal, presentation)
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills in a dynamic environment
• Professionalism and customer-service orientation when engaging students, partners, and visitors
• Ability to model ethical behavior and support the mission of the university

Benefits

The University of Oregon provides a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit our website.

Pay

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Schedule

This is a 1.0 FTE, 9-month instructor position, with potential for summer appointments. Renewal is performance-based.

Contact Information

To apply, please submit: • A current resume/CV that clearly shows how you meet the minimum qualifications. You may also include preferred qualifications, competencies, relevant work history (with dates), and education. • A portfolio of your footwear design and development work. • Three (3) professional references with contact information. References will not be contacted without prior notice.

The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please email us or call 541-346-5112.