Sr. Director, Apparel Design

Now that you’ve found the job description, what’s next?

Vans is the original brand rooted in the authentic lifestyle of skateboarding. We are driven by our mission to inspire and empower everyone to live “Off The Wall” – embracing the youthful spirit of freedom, non-conformity, and relentless progression. Yesterday’s “Off The Wall” moment is today’s new normal, and at Vans, we believe in constantly outdoing ourselves. Together with our communities across the globe, our vision is to push culture forward because we believe that the pursuit of progression never ends. We are constantly inspired by the future generation of positive catalysts within our community.  

So, before we get to the job details, take a minute to learn a little more about us – our values and our culture. If you can see yourself working side-by-side with a team of people who think and live “Off the Wall,” Vans just may be the place for you.

To learn more about our values and our culture, visit Vans Careers or www.vans.com.

What will you do?

A day in the life of a Senior Director, Apparel Design at Vans looks a little like this.

Reporting directly into the Chief Design & Innovation Officer, you will provide leadership and strategic design direction for the development of all Vans’ global Apparel business, across all consumer categories. You must inspire your team to create compelling and innovative product designs that reflect the brand’s values with a strong consumer focus. You will be responsible for driving the design direction and pushing the boundries of what is possible in apparel while staying true to Vans’ brand and creative vision.

Let’s break down that day-in-the-life a bit more.

• Lead a global Apparel product organization recruiting and developing the highest caliber of expertise product management and development.
• Create a global and innovation focused culture, capable of working cross-functionally and ensuring the Apparel product vision is reflected and executed in the marketing and distribution strategies.
• Partner with functional leaders on strategic cross functional initiatives designed to drive sales growth, margin improvement or expense reduction that support the delivery of brand and business goals.
• Build the right skillset in the global product engine and regional teams
• Drive a truly global Apparel product POV to deliver a consumer-centric product proposition by leading and mentoring design talent
• Foster strong collaboration between your group, and the Global Product Merchandsing & Development teams
• Deliver tangible business and brand growth, in line with set revenue and profitability goals

What do you need to succeed?

We all have unique skills that we bring to work and celebrate every day. For this role, there are foundation skills you’ll need to succeed and excel. Additionally, while formal education in a related field is great to have, we are most interested in your 12+ years of experience and professional achievements. 

The foundation skills you will need in this position are:

• Thorough knowledge of best global materials, product development and manufacturing practices needed.
• Strong interpersonal skills and leadership of a globally dispersed and operationally diverse team are key requirements.
• A proven track record of setting strategy and driving change in large organizations. Demonstrated leadership capability in a creative environment, strong strategic planning and analytical skills as well as product merchandising expertise required.

What do we offer you?

At Vans, we know you expect as much from us as we do from you. That is why we make a commitment to support and grow our people. We offer extensive development and growth opportunities for your current and future positions, a competitive compensation package, and a strong benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).

Our commitment extends beyond this and into your daily work life. We strive to foster a diverse and inclusive culture based on respect, connection, and authenticity. Our focus on DEI is at the foundation of who we are and what we do.

To learn more about Vans’ benefits package, follow this MyVFBenefits.com and click “Looking to Join VF”.

To learn more about Vans‘ Diversity and Inclusion efforts, go to www.vans.com.

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