VP, Chrome

Job Summary 

The Vice President, Chrome, has full accountability for the global Chrome business, including revenue, gross margin, and contribution profit. This role provides strategic and operational leadership to marketing and sales teams to drive performance against company goals. Operating in a highly matrixed environment, the VP partners closely with product, brand marketing, ecommerce, merchandising, direct-to-consumer, and planning teams to ensure alignment and execution of both short-term initiatives and long-term strategic priorities.

This role is based in Portland and requires a regular presence at our global headquarters (three days per week).

Essential Functions

• Collaborates with KEEN’s executive leadership and functional heads to champion division-level growth opportunities across distribution channels, ensuring alignment between operational execution, commercial strategy, and the company’s long-range goals.
• Responsible for setting the Chrome commercial plan for the 3-year long-range plan (LRP). Proposes and gains approval for annual and long-term business plans and budgets.
• Actively engages with the regional leaders to understand current and changing market dynamics that will impact a global business plan.
• Drives global revenue across channels of distribution by utilizing market insights to achieve revenue targets and brand growth for the division by bringing together and collaborating with cross functional teams consisting of Product Management, Design, Development, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Direct to Consumer, Insights & Engagement, Sales, Planning, Forecasting, Operations and Finance. 
• Delivers current year business and financial results as well as LRP results that achieve profitable top-line growth through brand awareness and innovative product opportunities.
• Sets division objectives, defines metrics, and champions the brand.
• Communicates and cascades the division plans and educates teams on global goals and the competitive landscape.
• Oversees the development of sales plans, sales organization, and key sales personnel designed to meet predetermined financial projections and goals, aligned with sales leadership to successfully execute the strategies as
• Leverages resource allocation and division planning to build effective key account plans and achieve sustainable, long-term results in sales and
• Serves as a proactive leader who guides and motivates teams and directs the execution of the division’s LRP.
• Cultivates and develops diverse talent within the direct reporting team to improve performance and results.
• Maintains working knowledge of all phases of operation and provides support across all departments and regions. Focus on continuous improvements and make recommendations to improve the division and operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Finance, or related field -  Required
  
• Master's Degree in Business or equivalent - Preferred
• Ten (10) years of experience in footwear, operations, or business unit management. Experience in the work boot business is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of the entire footwear product lifecycle component, including manufacturing and development
• Comprehensive knowledge of US and international markets and how to develop global product line offerings across multiple segments, regions, and price points
• Proven Direct-to-Consumer and “shop from anywhere”
• Strong project management skills and experience managing cross-functional internal and external teams
• Proven success in long-range planning, forecasting, meeting gross margin targets, and driving profitable growth
• Strong financial acumen and understanding of P&L. Previous P&L responsibility preferred.
• Outstanding data analytics and articulation skills
• Excellent presentation and communication skills with an ability to compel action at all levels of the
• Exceptional influencing skills, with experience engaging a diverse set of cross-functional partners
• Proficient in MS Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint 
• Ability to provide clear direction, set measurable goals, and give insight into the industry
• Ability to inspire and motivate a team, both direct and indirect reports, and peers
• Ability to successfully supervise and lead a team of direct reports and influence a team of cross-functional peers

Travel  - Yes. 20% of the time

Base Salary: $200,000 - $240,000 (yearly)
This range represents the low and high end of the anticipated base salary range for this position. The actual base salary will depend on numerous factors such as experience, knowledge, skills, and location. Our base salary is just one component of our competitive total rewards strategy, which includes numerous benefits and perks as well as specific health and welfare benefits.  

Why Work at KEEN:  Driven by a passion for life outside, KEEN is a values-led, independently owned brand from Portland, Oregon, that’s on a mission to create original and versatile products, improve lives, and inspire outside adventure. Founded in 2003, KEEN launched a revolution in the footwear industry with the introduction of the Newport adventure sandal and has donated more than $18 million to non-profit organizations and causes around the world to promote responsible outdoor recreation, including conservation efforts to protect open spaces. KEEN strives to show the world through its products and its actions that a business for good can actually be good for business. By giving back, reducing impact, and activating communities and individuals to protect the places where we work and play, KEEN puts its values in motion and takes action to leave the world a better place.  

At KEEN, we believe in a more just and equitable future for all people. As a global brand, we acknowledge that our business, buildings, and daily lives exist within the traditional territories of indigenous peoples. We strive for a future that recognizes the knowledge, rights, and resilience of these peoples.

Fuerst Group, KEEN, and Chrome are equal opportunity employers.  We value an inclusive and diverse community. Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.