Director Product Marketing Outdoor Apparel

DIRECTOR PRODUCT MARKETING OUTDOOR APPAREL
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 Creation of Apparel team for outdoor apparel

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
• Analyze and report category business performance to ensure achievement of category KPIs
• Positively represent the Creation team for Outdoor apparel both internally and externally
• Work with the GCA BU (Business unit), Brand Marketing and Sports Marketing teams throughout the season to define strategic product direction
• 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 (GCA Business units, CCS Design, CCS Development and souring, Materials, Costing, Planning)
• Markets and relevant key retailers

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Project management, problem solving, working through ambiguity
• 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 especially outdoor apparel
• 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 regions within GCA
• 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/outdoor

REQUISITE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• College degree, preferably in marketing/business /textile/fashion
• A minimum of 8 or more years of experience as a senior-level Creation of Apparel. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience directing outdoor brands, with a proven track record of successful projects
• A minimum of 3-5 years of management and leadership experience, demonstrating the ability to drive teams toward achieving strategic goals
• Excellent knowledge and solid hard skill over outdoor/technical wear in terms of material and construction, testing requirement (e.g. Goretex, Pertex, Polartec, seam-sealing, insulation, etc.)
• Experienced in collaboration projects (crossover fashion & functional outdoor) with external partner is preferable
• Strong leadership skills
• Experience in trade or sales is helpful
• Fluent in English
• PC skills (MS Office programs)