The Senior Director, Manufacturing Modernization is responsible for defining and leading Nike's global manufacturing modernization strategy, accelerating the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies, automation, digitization, manufacturing intelligence, and next-generation methods of make across Nike's footwear manufacturing network.
This role is accountable for establishing the long-term vision, strategic roadmap, operating model, and capability requirements necessary to create a future-ready manufacturing ecosystem that improves productivity, quality, agility, sustainability, and profitability. The leader partners across Manufacturing, Product Creation, Technology, Innovation, Supply Chain, external manufacturing partners, and footwear manufacturing equipment and solution providers to translate emerging technologies into scalable business value, while defining investment approaches that minimize risk of adopting new technologies.
As a key member of the Footwear and Materials Manufacturing Leadership Team, this role drives transformational change across Nike’s global manufacturing network.
Key Responsibilities
Enterprise Manufacturing Modernization Strategy
- Define and execute Nike's multi-year manufacturing modernization strategy aligned with enterprise growth, innovation, and operational objectives.
- Partner with Manufacturing and Engineering teams to develop modernization roadmaps, investment priorities, capability plans, and governance mechanisms across the manufacturing network.
- Establish long-term vision and performance metrics for advanced manufacturing and digital transformation.
Automation & Advanced Manufacturing
- Identify, prioritize, and scale automation opportunities across footwear and materials manufacturing operations.
- Lead adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies, robotics, intelligent automation, computer vision, and emerging methods of make.
- Establish engineering standards, frameworks, and best practices to enable scalable deployment across multiple manufacturing partners.
Manufacturing Intelligence & Digital Transformation
- Develop and lead Nike's manufacturing intelligence strategy, leveraging data, analytics, AI, and digital technologies to improve manufacturing performance.
- Partner with technology and digital teams to design and deploy connected factory solutions that improve visibility, decision-making, and operational excellence.
- Drive the development of digital capabilities that enhance productivity, quality, flexibility, and speed to market.
Network Transformation & Factory Adoption
- Together with Manufacturing and Engineering teams, partner with manufacturing partners, and cross-functional stakeholders to accelerate modernization adoption and execution.
- Develop the Footwear modernization ecosystem through development of current and new partnerships, vendor relationships and operating models
- Lead change management strategies and plans that ensure successful implementation and sustain operational impact.
- Drive alignment between modernization initiatives and network capacity, capability, and business priorities.
Strategic Partnerships & Influence
- Collaborate with senior leaders across Product Creation, Manufacturing, Sourcing, Supply Chain, Finance, Technology, and Innovation.
- Influence internal and external stakeholders by aligning investment decisions, resources, and execution plans with modernization objectives.
- Represent Nike externally on topics related to advanced manufacturing, automation, and future factory capabilities.
Organizational Leadership
- Build and lead a high-performing team of engineering, automation, digital, and manufacturing experts.
- Foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, collaboration, and accountability.
- Develop talent pipelines and organizational capabilities required to support Nike's future manufacturing agenda.
Leadership Defined Accountabilities
Drives Vision & Purpose
Creates a compelling vision for the future of manufacturing and inspires teams and partners to embrace transformational change.
Strategic Enterprise Thinking
Applies systems thinking to connect technology, manufacturing, product creation, and business strategy to drive enterprise value.
Cultivates Innovation
Challenges conventional approaches and drives experimentation, learning, and adoption of breakthrough manufacturing solutions.
Optimizes Execution
Balances long-term transformation objectives with near-term operational performance and measurable business outcomes.
Builds High-Performing Teams
Attracts, develops, and retains diverse talent while creating an inclusive and growth-oriented team culture.
Influences Across Boundaries
Builds strong partnerships and drives alignment across geographies, functions, and external manufacturing partners.
Scope & Impact
- Leads enterprise-level manufacturing modernization initiatives that influence Nike's global footwear manufacturing network.
- Responsible for shaping investment strategies and capability roadmaps for advanced manufacturing and digital transformation.
- Directly impacts productivity, quality, speed, cost competitiveness, and manufacturing resilience.
- Influences senior leadership decisions and large-scale partner investment priorities.
- Leads a team of manufacturing engineering, automation, digital, and modernization professionals.
Typical Qualifications
Education
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Operations, Technology, or related field.
Preferred: Master’s degree in engineering, Operations, Business Administration, or related discipline.
Experience
- 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, engineering, automation, operations, or technology.
- Proven experience leading large-scale transformation and change initiatives in complex global environments.
- Experience developing enterprise strategies and translating them into measurable business results.
- Strong track record influencing senior executives and external partners.
Preferred Experience
- Advanced manufacturing, Industry 4.0, automation, robotics, digital manufacturing, AI, or industrial technology environments.
- Consumer products, footwear, apparel, automotive, electronics, or related manufacturing industries.
- Global contract manufacturing and supply chain networks.
- Smart factory, manufacturing intelligence, MES, Industrial IoT, or digital twin implementations.
Success Profile
This leader will be successful by:
- Establishing a clear and scalable modernization strategy for Nike's manufacturing ecosystem.
- Accelerating adoption of automation, digitization, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
- Improving network productivity, quality, responsiveness, and resilience.
- Building best-in-class manufacturing intelligence capabilities.
- Developing a high-performing modernization organization that enables the future of manufacturing at Nike.
