Director of Sports Science

Architecting the Future of Athletic Performance

Join the Innovation team to lead a dynamic, interdisciplinary group of research scientists. This strategic leadership role focuses on driving cutting-edge advancements in athletic performance by merging deep physiological, biomechanical, and human performance research into groundbreaking product innovations. You will direct athlete-centric research programs and manage a large, high-performing team of scientists to shape the future of running and performance footwear.

Your Mission

You will architect the strategic vision and infrastructure required to build a world-leading science organization. Your primary objective is to bridge the gap between pure human performance research and commercialized product breakthroughs, ensuring rigorous, forward-thinking science is integrated into the company's DNA.

Strategic & Scale Leadership

• Vision & Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive long-term research agenda in biomechanics and physiology, establishing a clear future vision for a world-class performance science center aligned with innovation goals.
• Build & Scale: Scale a world-class Sports Science organization, implementing global industry-best practices and infrastructure while effectively managing budgets and lab resources.
• People & Culture: Lead, mentor, and inspire a large, high-performing team of researchers. Foster an inclusive, entrepreneurial culture of scientific excellence and fast-paced commercial application.

Applied Research & Product Translation

• Insight Generation: Direct cutting-edge research programs inside advanced performance labs, utilizing elite athletes and everyday movers to uncover new insights into human movement, injury prevention, and metabolic efficiency.
• Data Translation: Oversee large-scale data collection (biomechanical, physiological, and digital health) and translate complex findings into actionable design parameters and product requirements.
• Modern Methodology & Validation: Drive advanced scientific methodologies over outdated testing standards. Establish industry-leading protocols for subjective perception and objective validation to guarantee scientifically proven product benefits.

Ecosystem & Cross-Functional Impact

• Global Network: Cultivate and manage an elite network of global academic institutions, research partners, and progressive tech firms to keep the organization at the vanguard of movement science.
• Cross-Functional Cohesion: Partner seamlessly with product engineering, design, and marketing to ensure scientific insights are authentically integrated into product development and powerful consumer storytelling.
• Executive Communication: Synthesize and communicate complex data and human-performance concepts with clarity and commercial relevance to non-technical audiences and executive leadership.

Your Story

• Advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Sports Science, Biomechanics, Human Movement Science, Physiology, or a closely related scientific field.
• Proven track record of senior leadership (+10 years) heading interdisciplinary research groups, preferably within the sportswear or performance-gear industry.
• Demonstrated experience managing large teams (experience leading 20+ research scientists is highly preferred).
• Extensive experience directing physiological and biomechanical research, with a profound understanding of elite athlete performance and movement data.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a history of scaling or establishing modern human performance research frameworks, systems, or labs.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills; someone who can bridge the gap between technical data and creative design.
• A true passion for running, sports, and a continuous desire to reinvent athletic performance.

About the Team

The Innovation team is responsible for future products, out-of-the-box thinking, and athlete-informed technology that differentiates products in the market. Within this team, you will lead the Sports Science and Engineering team, which is focused on research, advanced product evaluation, computer-aided engineering, and concept engineering around performance footwear. You will have the opportunity to be part of an agile and interdisciplinary department of engineers, scientists, and designers. The environment fosters fast-paced work with direct decision-making and the freedom to design projects and processes.