Manager, Product Development Operations (TNF)

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

At The North Face we dare to lead the world forward through Exploration. We were born to Explore, Disrupt and to Lead. We were born to Love Wild Places and to Spark Curiosity. We believe that exploration is a mindset - both on the mountain and off the mountain - and it infuses everything we do. As a community of explorers, we stay curious about new ideas, places, and people.

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 adventure-loving people, The North Face just may be the place for you.

To learn more about our values and our culture, visit The North Face Careers or www.thenorthface.com.

What will you do?

A day in the life of an OPERATIONS MANAGER – Product Development & Material at The North Face looks a little like this.

The role, as part of the Product Development team, assumes responsibility for structuring and managing the key internal processes ensuring they are efficiently and effectively executed.

As Operations Manager you will play a pivotal role in supporting product development department by optimizing processes and ensuring operational excellence for Footwear, Apparel and Equipment & Accessories.

Your key responsibilities will include managing and coordinating the development calendar with a focus on achieving milestone excellence, measured through KPIs. You will also act as strategic advisor and chief of staff, breaking down complex milestones for better project flow, and elevating functional efficiency.

In this role you will work on optimizing team (PD and Material) 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 team to focus on core product goals.

You will also oversee the alignment across functions, in the Brand and in the wider VF organization.

How you will do it:

Build seasonal detailed calendar, owning seasonal inputs, team hindsight learnings & input/output for key milestones.

• Lead & establish critical business process & detailed calendars in alignment to the Global GTM Process
• Define and oversee detailed procedures to achieve on time completion of critical deadlines & execution of inputs required
• Drive against issue resolution and establish key opportunities to ensure operational excellence within the organization
• Create standardized tools that enable the team to execute
• Responsible for strategically planning events leading up to seasonal milestone meetings to ensure team and cross function alignment.

What success looks like:

• Building, executing & maintaining on time in full deliverables & improving efficiencies & executing to brand 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 7+ years of experience and professional achievements. 

The foundation skills you will need in this position are:

• Excellent project management skills: efficient, organized and collaborative, able to keep track of multiple streams of work and accomplish work through others
• Business acumen: understanding of the product lifecycle & to think creatively, with high foresight & holistic strategic mindset
• Event management: facility with the logistics and agenda setting for large events and the ability to gracefully execute and own their implementation
• 7+ years in a fast-paced matrix environment or a consulting/agency environment
• Excellent organizational skills in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to multitask
• Strong interpersonal skills as well as cross-functional team leadership, strategic planning, vendor management, design thinking

• Location requirement: Denver, CO

What do we offer you?

At The North Face, 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 inc