Vans: Manager, Development Operations

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.

Position: Manager, Product Development Operations (Global)

What will you do?

A day in the life of a Manager, Global Product Development Operations at Vans looks a little like this.

Reporting directly to the Vice President, Product Development this leader plays a pivotal role in supporting product development by optimizing processes and ensuring operational excellence. Key responsibilities include managing and coordinating the development calendar with a focus on achieving milestone excellence, measured through KPIs. The role involves acting as a strategic advisor and chief of staff, breaking down complex milestones for better project flow, and elevating functional efficiency. They work on optimizing team workflows to maximize productivity, conducting gross margin analyses with a cost-focused approach, coordinating tech packs, and organizing on-site planning sessions. This position is essential for maintaining streamlined operations that allow the development team to focus on core product goals.

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

• Process Optimization: Streamline and improve development workflows across product categories, focusing on reducing time-to-market and enhancing efficiency.

• Quality Control Systems: Implement and monitor quality control measures across the development process

• Timeline & Resource Management: Oversee scheduling and resource allocation to ensure development projects are completed on time and within budget.

• Cross-functional Coordination: Facilitate collaboration across development, design, and supply chain teams to align on project goals and improve workflow integration.

• Lead cross-functional initiatives to implement new capabilities and drive continuous improvement in processes, ensuring alignment across teams.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify and support evolving team needs, leveraging people, processes, and tools to create scalable, sustainable solutions.

• Develop and manage project charters, timelines, and tracking systems to ensure milestones are met and projects remain on schedule.

•  Track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure progress, identify areas for improvement, and ensure projects align with strategic 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 5+ years of experience and professional achievements. 

The foundation skills you will need in this position are:

• Process Optimization: Drives improvements in development workflows

• Quality Assurance: Ensures high-quality standards across production

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Coordinates with various departments

• Tools: Familiarity/skill with core PD tools (e.g., PLM)

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 cultur