Manager, Design Operations (Timberland Global)

​At Timberland, we’re a force of nature.  We’re a team that steps outside, works hard together, and moves the world forward.  The brand is widely recognized as the arbiter of boot culture.  With a rich heritage of craftsmanship and an eye toward the future, Timberland has a decades-long commitment to make products responsibly, protect the outdoors, and build 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 fun, adventure-loving people, Timberland just may be the place for you.  

To learn more about our values and our culture, visit Timberland Careers or www.timberland.com.

Manager, Design Operations (Timberland Global)

What will you do?

A day in the life of the Manager, Design Operations for Timberland’s Global Design team looks a little like this. 

The Design Operations Manager works collaboratively on managing the operational side of a design team, ensuring efficient workflows and processes to enhance productivity and creativity with a focus on milestone planning, process orchestration and project management.  You’ll be responsible for working cross functionally with functional partners to support the execution of the Go-to-Market (GTM) process and for the optimization of people, tools, process and craft to sustain a strong design culture.

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

• Process Management:  Identifying and addressing inefficiencies in the GTM process, creating streamlined workflows, and implementing best practices.

• Resource Management:  Balancing design team needs with available resources, ensuring that projects can be completed effectively and on time.

• Tooling and Technology:  Selecting, implementing, and managing design tools and software to optimize collaboration and productivity.

• Strategic Planning:  Developing and implementing design strategies, aligning them with business goals and overall product vision. 

• Metrics and Measurement:  Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the impact of design on business outcomes.

How you will do it:

• Team Coordination:  Facilitating communication and collaboration between design team members and other departments, such as product management and engineering.

• Building a Design Culture:  Promoting a positive and collaborative environment where designers can thrive and focus on their creative work.

• Collaboration: Working closely with cross-functional team members to ensure design is integrated into the overall product development process are aligned with strategic priorities..

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 foundational skills you’ll need to succeed and excel.  Additionally, while a formal education and subsequent undergraduate/graduate degrees such as a bachelor’s degree, Master of Business Administration or master’s degree in a related field are nice to have, but we are most interested in your 8+ years of footwear sourcing, manufacturing or development experience and 5+ years of management experience.

The foundational skills you will need in this position are:

• How to lead and inspire a cross functional group of peers to achieve common goals 

• The ability to travel to overseas sourcing offices 1 – 2 times per year to develop and implement footwear development process

• The adeptness to work in a fast-paced environment with cross-functional teams while handling multiple tasks 

• The aptitude to quickly assess and resolve situations with an appropriate sense of urgency 

• Flexibility and openness to change

• Able to work independently 

• Must possess analytical skills which lead to timely decision-making and problem-solving 

• Recognition of proce