Hoka Director, Digital Concept Design, Footwear - HOKA
BoF Careers, Portland, AR, United States
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:
Director, Digital Concept Design, Footwear - HOKA
Reports to:
Vice President, Global Design - HOKA
Location:
Portland, OR (Hybrid)
The Role Step into a future where digital innovation meets creative excellence. As the Director of Digital Concept Design for HOKA, you will lead the charge in redefining performance footwear through visionary digital tools and generative AI. You’ll be the architect of systems and workflows that empower creative teams, accelerate development, and unlock new dimensions of design. This is your opportunity to shape the future of footwear, inspire bold thinking, and build a culture of fearless innovation.
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
Define and drive HOKA’s digital design enablement roadmap, integrating 3D design, AI visualization, and prototyping tools into the footwear design process
Build and scale design tools and workflows that enhance creativity and efficiency for the entire design team
Rapidly prototype and test digital concepts, including AI-generated forms and interactive environments
Partner with VP of Design and Design Directors to set bold category vision and creative direction
Collaborate with internal and external teams to develop custom digital workflows and generative design systems
Empower the design community through training programs, toolkits, and hands-on support for digital and AI tools
Work closely with footwear design, innovation, engineering, and digital product teams to align tools with real-world needs
Prototype the future by developing and testing digital concepts that challenge convention and inspire new possibilities
Foster a culture of experimentation, learning, and cross-disciplinary collaboration
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, promoting innovation and continuous learning
Support career development and growth through coaching, feedback, and performance management
Drive a team culture rooted in trust, pride, and purpose, aligned with HOKA’s employee-centric values
Partner with Design Leadership Team and Brand Creative to define annual and seasonal creative vision and design direction
Attend seasonal kickoff events and travel to factories as required to bring digital concepts to life
Who You Are
Hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in industrial design, product design, interaction design, or a related field
Bring 10+ years of experience in 3D footwear design, creative technology, or digital product creation, with a focus on tool-building and workflow innovation
Have 5+ years of people management experience, with a track record of building and mentoring creative teams
Demonstrate expertise in 2D and 3D NURBS + POLY design and render tools (e.g., Rhino, Modo, Blender, Zbrush, Grasshopper, Gravity Sketch, Unreal, Keyshot, Substance Painter, Adobe Creative Suite)
Lead generative AI platforms (e.g., Midjourney, Vizcom, etc.) and have deep knowledge of performance footwear design, tooling design, mold design, and footwear manufacturing techniques
Excel in performance footwear upper and tooling 3D modeling
Have experience developing and implementing digital workflows for design teams, including AI-assisted ideation, visualization, and prototyping
Are familiar with rapid prototyping, simulation, and digital-to-physical pipelines
Possess strong leadership and communication skills
Showcase a portfolio of creative excellence and technical innovation in digital design
Bring expert-level knowledge of running, outdoor, and lifestyle footwear 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.
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Job Title:
Director, Digital Concept Design, Footwear - HOKA
Reports to:
Vice President, Global Design - HOKA
Location:
Portland, OR (Hybrid)
The Role Step into a future where digital innovation meets creative excellence. As the Director of Digital Concept Design for HOKA, you will lead the charge in redefining performance footwear through visionary digital tools and generative AI. You’ll be the architect of systems and workflows that empower creative teams, accelerate development, and unlock new dimensions of design. This is your opportunity to shape the future of footwear, inspire bold thinking, and build a culture of fearless innovation.
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
Define and drive HOKA’s digital design enablement roadmap, integrating 3D design, AI visualization, and prototyping tools into the footwear design process
Build and scale design tools and workflows that enhance creativity and efficiency for the entire design team
Rapidly prototype and test digital concepts, including AI-generated forms and interactive environments
Partner with VP of Design and Design Directors to set bold category vision and creative direction
Collaborate with internal and external teams to develop custom digital workflows and generative design systems
Empower the design community through training programs, toolkits, and hands-on support for digital and AI tools
Work closely with footwear design, innovation, engineering, and digital product teams to align tools with real-world needs
Prototype the future by developing and testing digital concepts that challenge convention and inspire new possibilities
Foster a culture of experimentation, learning, and cross-disciplinary collaboration
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, promoting innovation and continuous learning
Support career development and growth through coaching, feedback, and performance management
Drive a team culture rooted in trust, pride, and purpose, aligned with HOKA’s employee-centric values
Partner with Design Leadership Team and Brand Creative to define annual and seasonal creative vision and design direction
Attend seasonal kickoff events and travel to factories as required to bring digital concepts to life
Who You Are
Hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in industrial design, product design, interaction design, or a related field
Bring 10+ years of experience in 3D footwear design, creative technology, or digital product creation, with a focus on tool-building and workflow innovation
Have 5+ years of people management experience, with a track record of building and mentoring creative teams
Demonstrate expertise in 2D and 3D NURBS + POLY design and render tools (e.g., Rhino, Modo, Blender, Zbrush, Grasshopper, Gravity Sketch, Unreal, Keyshot, Substance Painter, Adobe Creative Suite)
Lead generative AI platforms (e.g., Midjourney, Vizcom, etc.) and have deep knowledge of performance footwear design, tooling design, mold design, and footwear manufacturing techniques
Excel in performance footwear upper and tooling 3D modeling
Have experience developing and implementing digital workflows for design teams, including AI-assisted ideation, visualization, and prototyping
Are familiar with rapid prototyping, simulation, and digital-to-physical pipelines
Possess strong leadership and communication skills
Showcase a portfolio of creative excellence and technical innovation in digital design
Bring expert-level knowledge of running, outdoor, and lifestyle footwear 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.
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr