Director of Operations

This is an exciting position as a Director of Operations of a beloved brand that is known as one of the footwear industry’s most respected products. As a Director of Operations, you will report to the International Brand President and serve as an instrumental component of a vital team in the organization. In this role, you will: Develop and implement operational strategies to achieve company goals and objectives | Manage and optimize the supply chain, including procurement, inventory management, and logistics | Streamline and improve operational processes to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

Who we are:

Founded in California in 1966, we are proud of our legacy as being the innovators of the first leather tennis shoe – the K-Swiss Classic. More than 50 years later, K-Swiss' modern brand mission is to outfit and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. These young leaders are at the forefront of today's culture, influencing and inspiring young people around the world.

Our culture is rooted in the principles of INNOVATION, CREATIVITY, INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, PASSION, PERFORMANCE, and FAIRNESS.

We empower our team members to embrace their creativity, knowledge, skills and to push forward and deliver excellent results. By joining our family, you will be immersed in an environment of incredibly supportive and collaborative people. We work hard across a multitude of initiatives to bring the passion of K-Swiss to life.

How you make a difference:

Team management of the following areas:

1. Demand Planning & Procurement for both K-Swiss and Palladium Brands
2. Customer Service – wholesale (internal)
3. Customer Service – D2C/Ecommerce/Back-office Support (external company)
4. Sales Operations - reporting
5. Warehouse (distribution) - management
6. B2B Platform Operations
7. Palladium brand general operation management

Inventory management for both K-Swiss and Palladium

1. Responsible for increasing inventory turns and reducing inventory levels YoY
2. Ensure promotional inventory lists are generated on a quarterly basis
3. Analyze inventory trends to ensure our purchasing of goods reflect current needs; work closely with KSGB management and Brand President on buying goods based on demand and risk factors
4. Help enact the supply chain visibility for goods purchased by channel from procurement to storage

Liaison between sales reps and operations; ensure wholesale sales reps’ needs are met and issues are communicated to the team

Work closely with external customer service team to ensure review scores improve YoY, NPS above 8, daily D2C customer service metrics are within high standards set (phone, text, email)

Partner with our global team (KSGB, China) to ensure we have good communication across Amazon coordination, inventory management, and cost-down initiatives

The Strategic Initiatives:

• Oversee all aspects of the production process, including sourcing materials, manufacturing, quality control, and distribution.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, such as design, sales, product, and marketing, to ensure seamless coordination and execution of operations.
• Analyze production data and metrics to identify areas for improvement and implement strategies to increase productivity and reduce costs.
• Manage and mentor a team of operations professionals, providing guidance and support to ensure high performance and employee development.
• Establish and maintain relationships with suppliers and vendors to ensure timely delivery of materials and components.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and execute long-term operational strategies aligned with the company's goals and objectives.
• Enable end-to-end inventory management visibility that is consistent with the reporting from the other regions. (APAC, Europe)
• Standardize sales reporting to meet the Brand President’s expectations; ensure global reporting is streamlined across regions
• Develop KPI scorecard of warehouse performance with finance’s approval

Industry Expertise:

• Monitor industry trends and technological advancements to identify opportunities for innovation and process improvement.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and industry standards related to manufacturing and operations.
• Develop and manage operational budgets, tracking expenses and identifying cost-saving opportunities.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree Required
• 8 -10 years of experience in operations/supply chain; preferred in footwear or apparel

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Aptitude

• Proven experience in a similar role within the footwear industry
• Strong knowledge of supply chain management, logistics, and inventory control
• Excellent leadership and communication skills
• Analytical mindset with the ability to identify and solve complex problems
• Proficiency in using relevant software and tools
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills

Physical Demands

• Sitting for extended periods of time
• Walking, standing for brief periods of time
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard
• Prolonged visual acuity necessary to view video display terminal, VDT

Work Environment

• Office and Warehouse

K-Swiss Global Brands provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.