Director, Design - HOKA Performance Footwear

Location: Portland, Oregon, United States; hybrid with office attendance typically three times per week, Tuesday–Thursday.

Salary: $154,700–$208,800 per year for the Portland, Oregon location.

Company

hirify.global develops and manages global lifestyle and performance footwear brands, including HOKA.

What you will do

• Define and drive the creative vision for HOKA Performance Footwear across racing, road, trail, training, and hiking categories.
• Create product concepts, design languages, branding, and franchise strategies that strengthen HOKA’s performance positioning.
• Translate athlete insight, consumer needs, cultural shifts, and competitive opportunities into distinctive product experiences.
• Partner with Product Management, Innovation, Development, Engineering, Color, Material, Graphic, Digital, and Merchandising teams.
• Protect design intent across silhouette, proportion, construction, materials, fit, ride, and athlete experience through commercialization.
• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of footwear designers while setting seasonal priorities and design standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in industrial design, product design, or a related field.
• 10+ years of footwear design experience, preferably in racing, road, trail, training, hiking, or outdoor performance categories.
• 3+ years of experience leading, managing, or mentoring footwear designers.
• Experience leading footwear products from concept through commercialization within a global product creation model.
• Strong knowledge of biomechanics, footwear construction, proportion, midsole and outsole design, materials, fit, ride, and performance benefits.
• Advanced technical drawing, visual communication, presentation, digital design, and modern creative workflow skills, including 2D, 3D, and AI-enabled exploration; portfolio required.

Culture & Benefits

• Inclusive and equitable workplace focused on authentic self-expression, diversity, and belonging.
• Competitive compensation programs and bonuses.
• Financial planning, income protection, and investment support.
• Paid time away supporting family needs, health, and recovery.
• Health and wellness programs, employee discounts, community-based programs, and professional development opportunities.