Jobs at Nike in South Korea, Busan

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

Top Traits and Skills Required:

• Comfort with Risk and Ambiguity: Demonstrated ability to perform well in unpredictable environments and make bold decisions when faced with uncertainty.
• Hands-On and Ownership-Oriented: A proactive leader who takes direct ownership of initiatives, working closely with teams to ensure outcomes align with goals.
• Visionary Thinking: Ability to see beyond conventional approaches, identifying unique opportunities to innovate and create impactful solutions.
• Persuasive Communication: Proven ability to inspire confidence and persuade stakeholders, paired with strong collaboration skills across all levels.
• Creative Problem Solver: Experience in developing new processes, products, or strategies from the ground up, thriving in the early stages of project development.
• Strong organization skills and a proven Creative team leader.
• Preferred – Computation design skills, Digital programming skills, engineering mindset, Prototyping and sampling experience.

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

As the Advanced Innovation Collective SPACE innovator, you will play a critical role in driving groundbreaking product concepts from ideation to reality. You will collaborate across teams to develop advanced methods of making, deliver innovative solutions, and foster competitive advantages in the marketplace.

Key Responsibilities:

• Team Collaboration: You will partner closely with product creation teams, Research and Engineering, and business units to nurture and shape new concepts aligned with the Explore vision. You’ll collaborate across Nike, working as a critical thought partner to align resources and drive action plans.
• Concept Validation: You define testing protocols and establish the scope needed to prove and validate new product concepts through Research and Engineering. Your creative problem-solving skills will help turn ideas into engineered prototypes.
• Nurturing Innovation: You enable teams to explore new Methods of Make (MoM) and performance-based solutions that advance Nike’s competitive position in the marketplace.
• Relationship Building: You cultivate strong connections across a highly matrixed organization, collaborating with teams ranging from Product Creation to PMO, PIC, and WHQ to develop projects that evolve Nike’s innovation landscape.
• Coaching and Mentorship: You prioritize fostering an inclusive environment that develops diverse team members, consistently coaching, mentoring, and inspiring Explorers to achieve their full potential.
• Execution Excellence: You thrive in turning concepts and new visions into actionable plans while navigating ambiguity, overcoming roadblocks, and building something from the ground up.
• Pioneering Product Creation: You lead by leveraging advanced engineering and knowledge of the Explore Landscape, furthering opportunities to develop cutting-edge product concepts using new technologies and processes.

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

In addition to skills in project management, effective communication, material knowledge, fundamentals in footwear manufacturing, and understanding of footwear testing, we look for candidates who are strong team players, creative problem solvers, agile learners, and people leaders who can work through ambiguity and competing priorities to successfully deliver results.

• Bachelor's degree in a Business, Design, Engineering, or related field with a minimum of 6 years of experience in footwear product engineering, manufacturing, or development.
• Experience in using software in Microsoft Office, Adobe, 3D viewer, Air Table, Miro etc.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple engineering workstreams simultaneously.
• Proven storytelling and influencing skills to engage and influence others, create impact, drive consensus, and align stakeholders.
• Strong collaborator with external and internal partners to manage competing priorities.
• Demonstrated verbal and written English communication and storytelling skills to clearly articulate goals and objectives and facilitate meetings

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON

As a Lead Innovator, you will be responsible for:

• Navigating ambiguity and deliver disruptive innovations that bring new performance benefits within our goals for performance, manufacturability, cost, and sustainability.
• Be the connective voice across multi-functional teams from WHQ (World Headquarter), development centers, and manufacturing centers.
• Working with these multi-functional teams to drive product and process excellence from initial idea to into physical samples, inclusive of performance and manufacturing validation, while maintaining the vision and design intent.
• Collaborating with product development, functional engineering, material and chemical teams to commercialize product innovations.
• Collaborating with engineers and visual communicators to create comprehensive presentations and documentation.
• Developing, leading, and implementing high-profile program development initiatives and processes.

This role will serve as a key connector between global strategy and local execution—ensuring that Japan-specific insights and cultural relevance are embedded in all initiatives. This includes elevating athlete service, driving athlete integration, and shaping a compelling and competitive portfolio across both professional and amateur categories.

• Minimum 8 years of proven experience in Sports Marketing, Brand Marketing, or a closely related field.
• Bachelors degree or equivalent.
• Strong relationship-building skills with athletes, coaches, agents, and industry stakeholders.
• Experience in portfolio management, critical thinking, and negotiation.
• Deep understanding of Japanese sports culture, with the ability to craft locally resonant narratives.
• Strong knowledge of the sports landscape across channels, particularly in Running Track & Field.

• Demonstrated ability to translate athlete and industry insights into actionable sport marketing strategies.
• Familiarity with Nike’s sports and brand marketing functions is preferred.

• Strong oral and written communication skills (in both English and Japanese).

• Strategic thinker with a proactive, entrepreneurial approach to driving business impact. Ability to operate with clarity and agility in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Inclusive, adaptable, and solutions-oriented team player with a can-do attitude. Technical Proficiency Proficiency in MS Office, Keynote, and internal Nike systems.

Detail of the key responsibilities are as follows:

• Proactively cultivate and maintain strong networks with athletes, amatur athletes, coaches, agents, teams, and internal stakeholders across Sports Marketing, Brand Marketing, SCI, Communications, NDDC, Nike Direct Stores, and Partner Sales teams.
• Lead athlete experiences and activations, especially in areas without direct brand support, using creative and resourceful approaches.
• Develop and execute athlete integration plans that align with Nike’s seasonal brand priorities and storytelling moments.
• Lead talent identification, invest/divest decisions, and endorsement contract negotiations to shape a competitive athlete portfolio.
• Partner with internal teams to ensure athlete partnerships support product, business, and marketplace strategies.
• Leverage performance data and market insights to inform decisions and measure impact.
• Ensure all athlete engagements comply with internal policies and external regulations.
• Manage promo product order/delivery based on key look and needs of the athletes every season
• Maintain accurate athlete data, manage system updates, and oversee budget forecasting and reporting.
• Provide regular updates to Japan and Global Sports Marketing leadership on athlete performance and partnership health
• Demonstrate a collaborative, growth-oriented mindset with a passion for sport and a commitment to Nike’s values.

NIKE, Inc. is searching for a curious and passionate Lead Chemical Engineer, Innovation to join its team in Busan, South Korea. The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience and a thorough understanding of Footwear Development & Manufacturing processes. The candidate should also be adept at thinking outside the box to develop innovative solutions that streamline manufacturing and enhance performance and footwear fit. A self-starter, flexible thinker, and effective communicator, the candidate must be comfortable working cross-functionally and capable of influencing diverse personalities and perspectives. These skills are essential for collaborating across the Innovation team and various functions within Nike's matrixed organization. Proficiency in technical writing, an engineering mindset, data-driven decision-making, creativity, and the ability to challenge conventional methods are highly valued.

• Bachelor's degree or above in chemical engineering or chemistry (polymer or organic); a degree in textile or material engineering may be considered with the right work experience.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in footwear chemical engineering, manufacturing, or development.
• Experience with adhesive systems, rubbers, foams, injection plastics, especially formulation and processes related to consumer products.
• Knowledge of materials such as leather, synthetic leather, and textiles.
• Experience with sustainable materials and/or processes a strong plus.
• The ability to analyze data and the situation from a chemical engineering perspective; experience with analytical techniques (FTIR, DSC, TGA, DMA) a plus.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple engineering workstreams simultaneously.
• Excellent storytelling and English communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Local hire only

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

As a Lead Chemical Engineer, you will be responsible for:

• Appling advanced chemical and/or material concepts, theories, principles, and practices to provide technology advancements and solutions.
• Working effectively across the Nike matrix and with external partners to ultimately bring projects to manufacturing successfully.
• Leading and execute the development and transition of new chemical product, platforms, and capabilities.
• Leading the approval of new chemicals and ensure successful vendor onboarding in collaboration with inline CE (Chemical Engineering) team.
• Designing, planning, and executing engineering trials, and analyze results to determine necessary actions for achieving program targets, including performance & fit, cost, sustainability, and manufacturability.
• Collaborating with product development and functional engineering teams to commercialize product innovations.
• Collaborating with innovators and visual communicators to create comprehensive technical documentation.

We’re looking for a Lead Footwear Product Engineer for Running positioned in Korea to be an integral part of our Footwear Product Development Team and help drive product excellence for Running consumers. As a Lead Footwear Product Engineer, this person will provide project and process direction, within the project team, to create highly technical performance product. The ideal candidate needs to have demonstrated product engineering, collaboration, and problem-solving skills in a product development environment. In addition, we are looking for people who are self-starters, quick learners, clear communicators, great teammates, and exhibit strong leadership skills. As a member of the development team, this person will effectively build relationships, lead, and interact with teams across Nike Footwear Product Creation.

• Minimum of 6+ years directly applicable Footwear Development or Engineering work experience across multiple footwear sports/styles.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher or equivalent combination of education, experience or training
• Have a solid understanding of the tools supporting and tactically driving the footwear product creation process.
• Experience being subject matter experts in footwear lasts, upper patterns, materials, chemistry, bottom tooling, injection and plates, costing, test methodologies, and manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of the creation process, including production planning, forecasting, and scheduling to deliver product quality in a timely, efficient, and effective way.
• Demonstrated critical experiences in Adopting and Driving Innovation through the INLINE Product Creation Process.
• Demonstrated experience in Driving Product or Engineering Initiatives and/or Strategy across the greater Footwear Dimensions and/or functions.
• Outstanding High-profile communication and influencing skills, with the ability to champion sophisticated projects both cross-functionally and vertically with the organization.
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally up to 15% of the time

We’re looking for you to apply your expert level knowledge and experience to improve product excellence:

• By identifying and addressing key issues and challenges in construction/manufacturing
• Engaging in all phases of the product process to ensure projects are led according to critical dates and completed on time
• Meeting design intent, performance goals, costing/profitability, sustainability targets, and product integrity requirements.
• Provide the team of Footwear Engineering technical training and consultation.
• Lead the Engineering Standard and Best Practices documents to proliferate to the global.

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

You will directly report to Footwear Manufacturing Engineering Director in Korea PMO.

The candidate needs to demonstrate advanced skills and knowledge of lasts, footwear tooling, basic chemical engineering, various footwear construction processes and footwear manufacturing machinery and processes.

• Minimum 6 years of tooling industry experience or combined footwear manufacturing and technical capacity experience
• College degree in related technical/engineering field. Additional experience required in lieu of a degree
• Work experience in a mold shop is desired
• Proficient in interpreting technical drawings, sketches and digital files in 2D/3D
• Strong communicator (written and verbal) in English
• Travel as needed to support engineering and production initiatives

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

While our partners obsess the details, you will drive the overall tooling excellence that will deliver perfect quality, on-time and at cost to our consumers. You will ensure standards are met and best practices are applied. You will be accountable for driving progress at the mold partners and factories against our strategic initiatives. You will strive to enable world-class manufacturing of tooling thru our partners to produce the world's best product. Consistently. Efficiently. Sustainably.

You will partner with cross functional team to support effective implementation of global strategic initiatives and unlocking manufacturing partner’s capacity and performance.

• Provide tooling expertise to scale new capabilities and innovations at the factory level
• Work with Manufacturing & Engineering leadership and Partner teams to ensure standardized best practices are correctly applied at factory workshop floor
• Work directly with Mold manufacturers and factory teams to ensure the best practices are being understood and applied.
• Proactively apply future-ready skills and competencies and facilitate adoption by manufacturing partner counterparts
• Develop and write standards, best practices on new implemented manufacturing processes and update existing processes.
• Provide tooling training at country level for manufacturing and product creation.

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

We’re looking for a Senior, Footwear Product Engineer for Running, positioned in Korea to be an integral part of our Footwear Product Development Team and help drive product excellence for Running consumers. As a Senior, Footwear Product Engineer, this person will provide project and process direction, within the project team, to create highly technical performance product. The ideal candidate needs to have demonstrated project management, collaboration, and problem-solving skills in a product development environment. In addition, we are looking for someone who is a self-starter, quick learner, clear communicator, great teammate, and exhibits strong leadership skills. As a member of the development team, this person will effectively build relationships, lead, and interact with teams across Nike Footwear Product Creation.

• Minimum of 5+ years of directly applicable Footwear Development or Engineering work experience across multiple footwear sports/styles.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher or equivalent combination of education, experience or training.
• Have a solid understanding of the tools supporting and tactically driving the footwear product creation process.
• Strong oral and written communication skills (in both English and Korean).
• Experience and solid knowledge for footwear lasts, upper patterns, materials, chemistry, bottom tooling, injection and plates, costing, test methodologies, and manufacturing.
• Solid understanding of the creation process, including production planning, forecasting, and scheduling to deliver product quality in a timely, efficient, and effective way.
• Demonstrated critical experiences in Adopting and Driving Innovation through the INLINE Product Creation Process.
• Demonstrated experience in Driving Product or Engineering Initiatives across the Footwear Dimensions and/or functions.
• Demonstrate good communication and influencing skills, with the ability to champion sophisticated projects both cross-functionally and vertically with the organization.
• Ability to travel locally and internationally up to 15% of the time.

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

We’re looking for you to apply your knowledge and experience to improve product excellence,

• By identifying and addressing key issues and challenges in construction/manufacturing.
• Engaging in all phases of the product process to ensure projects are led according to critical dates and completed on time.
• Meeting design intent, performance goals, costing/profitability, sustainability targets, and product integrity requirements.
• Provide the team of Footwear Engineering technical training and consultation.
• Lead the Engineering Standard and Best Practices documents to proliferate to the global.