Director, Product Marketing, Kids Footwear

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization: Recognize sport and consumer insights. Heavily influence category direction and drive its implementation. Execute strategies to tactical plans. Steer a cross-functional product creation team to deliver the category vision. Lead and develop the category team. Key Responsibilities: Manage a team and develop their functional and social skills using available resources to create a top performing team. Set and manage strategic category direction; ensure cross-functional alignment. Identify new business opportunities to drive innovation and / or commerciality. Develop an "all for one attitude" within the team to ensure smooth cooperation with interlinked departments. Have full understanding of the product creation process to drive it forward. Be a role model for all team members in regards to strategic direction and the product creation process. Show leadership through living the brand values while fostering a performance culture. Manage and develop optimum relationship with cross-functional teams and with interlinked departments to enable an efficient product creation process. Challenge the cross-functional team to ensure creation of industry leading products. Analyse and report category business performance to ensure achievement of category KPIs. Positively represent the category both internally and externally. Be a competent partner for category and ranging discussions with markets. Define projects to optimize category performance and steer to conclusion. Build an understanding of product information systems and the interlinking functions – clarity on respective timelines Key Relationships: Steer a strong relationship and ensure constant dialogue/feedback with Your category across all functions, other categories and creation centers (if appl.) Cross-functional team (Design, Development, Materials, Costing, Planning) Markets Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Manage a team to create industry leading products Inspire, coach and lead; set framework for performance and growth In-depth knowledge of respective product category Advanced analytical skills, be solution driven and result oriented, strong business orientation Ability to thrive in a fast paced environment Strong communication skills Lateral thinking and challenge status quo Profound consumer, market and retail knowledge especially in regards to different needs of different countries/ regions Step up to conflicts and work towards a diplomatic solution Execute change management Cooperate effectively to maintain and develop trustful relationships Ability to travel Passion for sports Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications: College degree, preferably in marketing/business /textile/fashion Minimum of 10 years Product Marketing experience with Kids’ FTW Product Marketing experience as a must have At least 5 years of experience in managing and developing direct reports Strong leadership skills Experience in trade or sales is helpful Fluent in English (oral/written) PC skills (MS Office programs)