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Vans is more than just your ordinary action sports, or footwear & apparel company. Our company celebrates the voice of youth culture, powered by creative self-expression because we know the most Off the Wall thing you can do is be yourself. As the Global Chief Merchandising Officer, you will drive integrated, profitable, and relevant head-to-toe merchandising strategies and product stories, across all consumer categories. You will set the vision for market and channel connectivity, ultimately elevating consumer centricity.
As a member of the C-Suite, reporting to the Global Brand President, you are responsible for leading the Product Management, Product Development & Product Operations functions. You will set the foundation for assortment segmentation, commercial balance, pricing, and margins for all product categories - inclusive of footwear, apparel and accessories. You and your teams will create, own, and champion the global product business including overall strategic direction and product line management. This will include business plan development, concept/product briefing, cross-functional team leadership, sales and margin accountability, and development.
You will do this while maintaining a relevant focus on our consumer and our competition, both current and future, within each unique market and sales channel. In order to succeed and ensure the company hits its organizational objective, you must be an opportunity identifier, evaluator, and maker. You are the proprietor of the growth and performance of a large team of business leaders responsible for the development of their direct reports and the prosperity of the business overall.
Join the Vans Family
Vans® is the original action sports footwear company, rooted in authenticity and creativity. Founded in 1966, we have thrived on a legacy of impacting our greater community through four pillars: action sports, music, art and street culture. We are constantly inspired by the creative voyagers within our company and community. For them, creativity is about the journey, not just the output. Our mission is to empower everyone to use creativity to discover themselves. Our vision is to create a world where anyone can be their unique self.
At Vans, our culture sets us apart and influences everything we do. We are driven by our five values: We have HEART – also referred to as the “Van Doren Spirit”. We are relentlessly CURIOUS about our consumers and the world around us. We are UNAPOLOGETICALLY AUTHENTIC and whole heartedly believe the most “Off the Wall” thing you can do is be yourself. We are driven by a spirit of INGENUITY. And we are passionate about local COMMUNITIES. And most of all, we are a family that has fun together.
At Vans we empower creative exploration and inspire youth culture through a commitment to inclusivity. We welcome anyone and everyone into our global family and proudly celebrate and environment where individuality is embraced, equal opportunities thrive, and everyone is empowered to reach their greatest potential.
By joining our family, you will be immersed in an environment of incredibly supportive and collaborative people. We work hard across a multitude of initiatives to bring the Van Doren Spirit to life. We live for what we do.
How You Will Make a Difference
What you will do:
Set the vision for a line plan and product briefings the effectively express the global brand creative and seasonal design vision, while ensuring regional relevance that balances commercial needs, brand strategy and innovation.
Leveraging a consumer-centric approach, establishes the consumer category direction and consistently evaluates for relevancy and new opportunities.
Owns the global cost and pricing strategy in collaboration with the regional merchants.
Provide oversight/direction for the global product business along with overall business responsibility in these areas.
Support regional counterparts, trade shows, and market visits to stay connected to both our key customers and consumers, as well as gathering trend/market information for the brand.
Partners closely with all regional merchandising leads to ensure connectivity and understanding local relevance in terms of product.
How you will do it:
Lead and inspire a global product team through dynamic, visible, and inspirational purpose-led, performance-driven leadership that positively impacts profitable growth
In partnership with the Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Product Design Officer establish an aligned global brand and consumer strategy.
Leverage our data & analytics capabilities to lead assortment analytics, post-season analysis, and pre-season efforts to inform data-driven decision making.
Build and maintain a highly successful team, you
Mentors, develops, and empowers the future leaders of the organization, allowing everyone to execute at their full capacity.
What success looks like:
Your diverse experiences and background enable you to provide a unique perspective to fuel our global growth.
Your inclusive leadership invites and welcomes differing points of view.
Effectively partner with the Regional merchandising and commercial teams to meet the organization’s financial objectives.
Build and maintain a highly successful team that reflects our global consumer population, focused on product, purpose, and performance.
Free To Be, Inclusion & Diversity
As a mission-led, performance driven company, we strive to foster a culture of belonging based on respect, connection, openness and authenticity. We are committed to building and maintaining a workplace that celebrates the diversity of our associates, allowing them to bring their authentic selves to work every day.
Skills For Success
Years of Related Professional Experience: 15+ years
Educational Position Requirements:
A formal education and subsequent undergraduate/graduate degrees are nice to have, but we are most interested in your total experience and professional achievements.
What we expect you already know:
Deep product experience, with footwear being a must and apparel being a plus
Understands and embraces the industry, consumer, and culture - including Vans competitive positioning
Ability to think strategically, act tactically, and convey a vision for the future within the global landscape
A deep understanding of markets, channels and brand building
Strong interpersonal, communication, presentation, and problem solving skills
The ability to work effectively with diverse individuals from a variety of backgrounds, functions, and perspectives
Intermediate computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point)
What we will teach you:
Career ownership, enabling you to build your knowledge and experience across different brands and even other countries
To thrive in a supportive feedback-based culture where respect and integrity guide us in what we do
How to grow, both professionally and personally, with tailored training – from a thorough induction to ongoing online and face-to-face training
Be part of an inclusive environment where people of diverse backgrounds, lifestyles, and nationalities love working together
To inspire others to step outside and make it better, make a difference by using purposeful actions first and encourage others to join you, believe in collaboration and work to create positive transformations, and initiate and propose bold ideas for innovation, development, and progress.
VF Guiding Principles: Live with Integrity, Act Courageously, Be Curious, Act with Empathy, and Persevere.
What’s In It For You
We’re in the business of unleashing human potential, driven by the ideas, energy and commitment of our people. That’s why we offer comprehensive benefits that encourage mental, physical and financial well-being for all VF associates. When it comes to benefits, we’re the total package. Go to MyVFBenefits.com and click on “Looking to Join VF?” to learn more.
Our Parent Company, VF Corporation
VF is one of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies connecting people to the lifestyles, activities and experiences they cherish through our family of iconic outdoor, active and workwear brands. At the heart of our journey lies our company-wide purpose: We power movements of sustainable and active lifestyles for the betterment of people and our planet. This is our purpose. It’s the reason we come to work every day. It’s a commitment shared by our global associates across all brands. Our purpose unites us and leads us to pursue our goals, together. This is our calling. Learn more at vfc.com
We just have one question. Are you in?
Hiring Range:
$302,400.00 USD - $378,000.00 USD annually
Incentive Potential: This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Specific details of the additional compensation eligibility for this position will be provided during the recruiting and interview process.
Long-Term Incentive Potential: This position is eligible to participate in a Long-Term Incentive Plan. Specific details of the plan will be provided during the recruiting and interview process.
Benefits at VF Corporation: You can review a general overview of each benefit program offered, including this year's medical plan rates on www.MyVFbenefits.com and by clicking Looking to Join VF? Detailed information on your benefits will be provided during the hiring process.
Please note, our hiring ranges are determined and built from market pay data. In determining the specific compensation for this position, we comply with all local, state, and federal laws.
At VF, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. If you are unable to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at peopleservices@vfc.com. VF will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent required by applicable law.
Pursuant to all applicable local Fair Chance Ordinance requirements, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, VF will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Seniority level
Executive
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Marketing
Industries
Marketing Services and Retail Apparel and Fashion
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