Vice President, General Manager (Packs Americas)

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

At Eastpak, JanSport and Kipling, we are three unique brands that embody the same spirit of self-expression and discovery.  We’re built to resist whatever life throws at us, to express ourselves as individuals, and inspire positive resistance.  We put our people first. We always have and we always will. It is ingrained in our DNA. Good people bring out the good in people, and good people are the foundation of this brand.

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 express ourselves with the bags we carry and who believe in new experiences, living a life of positivity, and discovering our own way, Eastpak, JanSport and Kipling just may be the place for you.

To learn more about our values and our culture, visit www.eastpak.com, www.jansport.com or www.kipling-usa.com.

Vice President, General Manager (Packs Americas)

What will you do?

A day in the life of a Vice President, General Manager on the Americas Eastpak, JanSport and Kipling Commercial Team looks a little like this.

As part of Packs Global and Americas Leadership Team, the Vice President, General Manager – Packs Americas will provide leadership and vision to drive the region’s business by creating and executing each brand’s strategies in digital, retail and wholesale distribution channels.  You are a collaborative leader who drives revenue growth and operating contribution while managing assets.  You will lead business development and strategic direction as well as provide dynamic, visible and inspirational leadership to positively impact business initiatives.  You will report to the President, Global Packs and manage teams that include business planning, marketing, digital, retail, and sales in the United States, Canada and Latin America.  

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

• Responsible for the overall digital, retail, wholesale distribution for Packs Americas (Eastpak, JanSport, and Kipling) business, including full P&L responsibility 
• Set high expectations and create an environment that maximizes results, achieves strategic and financial plans, and motivates people to succeed 
• Collaborate with each brand’s leadership teams and the Amer regional leadership team on the 3-year, 5-year, and seasonal strategy 
• Implement regionally relevant innovation and product concepts into the territory teams through the global product engine 
• Direct the development and execution of strategy that maximizes the performance of all functional areas within the Americas region, i.e., merchandising, inventory management, store and wholesale management, operations, finance, marketing 
• Hire, develop and motivate a talented team while building a strong bench for critical roles 
• Develop effective working relationships with senior level management at major customers, including national retailers and department stores  
• Establish and uphold each brand's distribution segmentation strategy for sustainable brand growth
• Develop key relationships with the cross-functional and cross-regional leaders, and other VF leadership stakeholders 
• Provide direction on consumer needs for the Americas region through the product creation and development process 
• Collaborate with senior management in finance, legal, digital technology and human resources to develop strategy and long-range business plans
• Anticipate market needs or events and their implications on the consumer and the business; provide vision, direction, focus and motivation; scan the environment, gather and share information needed to solve problems and make informed decisions in a deliberate manner 
• Through actions and example, ensure that each brand’s values are fully incorporated into business strategies and consumer messaging, upholding the values of the company in all business interactions and acting as a visible leader in promoting corporate social responsibility initiatives. 

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. You are high-caliber retail executive with fifteen years or more of progressive experience with five to seven years of managerial experience in multi-channel equipment / accessories brands.  The ideal sectors would be outdoor, fashion and lifestyle howeve