Senior Product Designer, Footwear

Job Description

COVID-19: Allbirds requires all US-based Corporate employees who enter an Allbirds-owned or operated Corporate facility to demonstrate proof of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of their employment, subject to exemptions for sincerely held religious beliefs, or valid medical reasons.

San Francisco, CA or Portland, OR

Who is Allbirds?

At Allbirds, we believe in using business as a force for good. We’re a global footwear and apparel brand with roots in New Zealand and headquarters in San Francisco. Since 2016, we’ve been on a mission to prove that comfort, design, and sustainability aren’t mutually exclusive. Our commitment to creating better things in a better way is fueled by a belief that the fashion industry needs to focus less on flash and more on thoughtfulness. We're a certified B Corporation, meaning we meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. We’re dedicated to making the most sustainable products we can using premium natural materials - designed for life’s everyday adventures. In fact, TIME 100 named us for being one of the most innovative companies. Already calling our first shoe, the Wool Runners, the most comfortable in the world, and there is much more to come.

We take our craft seriously, but not ourselves . As part of the Allbirds family, you can look forward to team lunches, product tests, fun company events, inspiring guest speakers, comfortable shoes, sheep puns, and lots of creative ideas.

What does the job entail?

• Work openly and collaboratively with a small passionate team of designers from diverse backgrounds including industrial, footwear, apparel, cmf and textile designers.
• Present and instruct designs and design refinements to the broader product team and manufacturing partners.
• Offer a unique design pov and vision for allbirds performance footwear and performance innovation solutions.
• Explore the allbirds design ethos by developing and creating new, future facing design solutions.
• Diversify our performance design offering, build relevance and appeal to new audiences.
• work with lifestyle director and design team to execute allbirds design philosophy across all lifestyle product.
• Contribute progressive ideas to help lead allbirds design into the future.
• Work openly and collaboratively across all aspects of the footwear creation process.
• Work openly and collaboratively with a small passionate team of designers from diverse backgrounds including industrial, footwear, apparel, cmf and textile designers.
• Manage other designers and external consultants.
• Present and instruct designs and design refinements to the broader product team and manufacturing partners.

What kind of person are we looking for?

• 6-8+ years of Performance Footwear Design Experience
• Deep Consumer Knowledge particularly in Lifestyle & Performance
• Proficiency with visually and verbally communicating ideas, thoughts and design work to a variety of functions.
• High technical ability and deep performance design knowledge & “know-how”.
• Work with the Vice President of Product Design and design team members to deliver compelling Allbirds performance product solutions.
• Deep belief in 'Making better things in a better way' and eager to embrace and translate the Allbirds philosophy into future industry-leading performance.
• Great intuition, a leader and innovator and expert in the performance space.
• Uses design as a tool for inspired problem solving.
• Comfortable managing multiple work streams, thinking holistically and strategically
• Great collaborator, Able to work within a team of creatives and also cross functionally with Product Development, PS&M (Product Strategy & Merchandising), Sustainability and Innovation, Marketing, Supply Chain, etc...
• Comfortable solving problems through conversations, sketching, making, in the studio and in the sample room, via Zoom & Miro collaboration.
• Is flexible and able to work quickly/comfortable with tight deadlines, while managing ambiguity in a dynamic, fast-growing environment.
• Strong work ethic with a "No task is too small" attitude.
• Deep knowledge and understanding of the creative process.
• Responsive to feedback, capable of both receiving and giving comprehensive feedback.
• Self-starter attitude with team player mentality.
• 3D Capabilities is a Plus

More practical skills needed:

• BFA/BA/BS or Equivalent
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite
• Asana Knowledge is a Plus

What can we offer?

• Competitive salary + equity
• Medical / Dental / Vision insurance
• 401k employer match
• Paid parental leave
• Wellness Benefits
• Employee Discount
• Commuter Benefits
• Student Loan Repayment Program

Please apply with your resume and cover letter. We're excited to hear from you.

Diversity

Allbirds is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. Allbirds policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, marital or veteran status, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member), sexual orientation, pregnancy, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. It also prohibits discrimination based on a perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics. All such discrimination is unlawful.