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Vice President, Global Footwear Design & Innovation

Arc'teryx· Creative – Footwear
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Portland, OR$224k - $336kFull-timePosted 4mo ago

About the role

Executive leadership role responsible for defining and leading Arc’teryx Footwear’s global design and innovation strategy, integrating design, performance, materials science, and sustainability to drive industry-leading footwear across seasons and categories.

Responsibilities

  • Define and own a unified global vision for footwear design and innovation, aligned to brand strategy and long-term business objectives
  • Establish and drive a multi-year creative and innovation roadmap, balancing breakthrough thinking with commercial rigor
  • Identify emerging opportunities across performance, biomechanics, materials science, sustainability, and digital product creation
  • Create, champion, and evolve the end-to-end design ethos and visual identity of Arc’teryx Footwear across form, materials, colour, and graphics
  • Inspire world-class design concepts grounded in athlete insight, consumer relevance, and technical performance
  • Ensure a cohesive and elevated design expression that connects footwear across categories and aligns with the broader Arc’teryx creative vision
  • Lead the creation of scalable innovation platforms—including cushioning systems, tooling architectures, upper constructions, and material solutions
  • Drive early-stage exploration, prototyping, and validation while ensuring innovations deliver clear performance and consumer value
  • Ensure innovation is scalable, manufacturable, and integrated seamlessly into inline product
  • Embed sustainability objectives into design and innovation decisions from the outset
  • Advance circular design, responsible material choices, and lower-impact construction methods
  • Partner with Product Management, Development, Sourcing, Manufacturing, and Merchandising to execute seasonal line plans
  • Collaborate with Brand Marketing to shape authentic innovation and design stories across evergreen and seasonal launches
  • Represent Footwear Design & Innovation in executive forums, milestone reviews, and strategic planning discussions
  • Build, lead, and inspire a high-performing global team of designers, innovators, and technical creators
  • Foster a culture of curiosity, experimentation, inclusivity, disciplined risk-taking, and accountability
  • Develop top talent, set clear expectations, and create space for bold thinking, learning, and growth

Qualifications

  • 15+ years of leadership experience in footwear innovation, design, engineering, or advanced product creation
  • Bachelor’s degree in Industrial or Product Design, or equivalent industry experience
  • Proven track record in developing and leading the execution of a multi-year product strategy
  • Deep understanding of design, commercialization, and industrialization of high-performance outdoor footwear
  • Ability to set a clear vision, align team around objectives, and foster commitment
  • Strong business acumen to lead in a complex matrix environment
  • Proven people leadership skills to build, coach, and guide a diverse, high-performing team
  • Influential leadership to drive alignment across cross-functional stakeholders at all levels
  • Commitment to continuous self-improvement, empathy, compassion, and teamwork
  • Proficiency with design software (Adobe Suite — Illustrator/Photoshop) and 3D software
  • Willingness and ability to travel globally as required

Skills

Required:Vision settingStrategy developmentLeadership

Benefits

  • Health & wellbeing: Extended health, dental, vision, mental health support, fertility benefits, 24/7 EAP
  • Financial wellbeing: 401(k) with matching, eligibility for Annual Incentive Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
  • Time & Flexibility: Paid time off, No Wasted Day program
  • Family support: Parental leave with transition back to work options
  • Growth, community & gear: Professional development, Arc'teryx Academies, Employee Belonging Councils, employee discounts and Pro Deals
Last updated Oct 21, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Arc'teryx

Outdoor Clothing, Technical Outerwear, & Accessories | Arc'teryx United States

Arc'teryx is a high performance outdoor equipment company known for leading innovations in climbing, skiing and alpine technologies

outdoorclothingouterwearaccessoriesskiingclimbingalpine
Company profileWebsite

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