VP of Reebok Creative Direction

This position has been filled - Job#: 453365324

Job Summary

The Creative Director will partner with the GM’s and BU heads to ensure the design strategy for footwear, apparel, accessories, graphics, trend and color design is understood across all product category lines in order to allow for commercial success.  Overall responsibility for the creation of global design strategy and implementation of design standards in Boston and Barcelona.

Key Accountabilities:

Create, steer and drive the global design strategy for all Reebok footwear, apparel, graphics, color, trend and accessories.

Ensure a global design language across the business.

Overall responsibility for driving the development of a Design strategy that supports the SBP while maintaining the overall global strategic direction.

Partner with the GM’s, BU Heads and Development Leads to ensure that business needs are met through creative and achievable designs.

Formulate new and innovative ways to take the global footwear and apparel businesses to the next stage of growth by understanding the DNA of the brand, staying on the pulse of consumer and competitors and collaborating and influencing global teams to achieve outstanding results.

Promote innovation and creativity across all design teams while balancing the business needs and product creation timelines.

Analyze and identify future trends, competitor and consumer activity for mid to long term positioning.

Oversee the Creative Direction budget; inclusive of the design freelance budget, design apprentices, etc.  Monitor costs and expenses and allocate resources effectively.

Evaluate and maximize team’s performance through the Performance Review Process and individual development, coaching, skill acquisition and general design performance. 

Drive holistic design packages for horizontal concepts.

Create and define the Reebok Brand visual language across categories in partnership with Brand Management.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

An executive presence with skills in persuasively presenting innovative points to convince audiences to adopt a different course of action or to take ownership of newly introduced initiatives.

Outstanding teamwork and influential management skills with the ability to work with others at all levels within an organization.

The ability to quickly adapt to, be accepted by and inter-relate with colleagues at all levels, particularly in a company with a very strong and rich corporate culture.

An energetic and resourceful executive who operates effectively with minimum direction and who pursues his/her objectives relentlessly.  Has a positive, upbeat attitude and is passionate about their business and organization.

An honest and forthright individual who is upfront and direct with subordinates, peers and management executives to whom he/she reports.

Qualifications:  

Bachelor’s degree in design required; advanced degree a plus.

15+ years of experience driving the product vision/creation, cross-functional execution and growth of a global apparel/footwear business.

Ability to execute creative global direction throughout multiple collections throughout a season.

A well-rounded executive with strong product design and development, marketing/brand building, merchandising, planning, and sales credentials, as well as a solid understanding of sourcing, manufacturing and supply chain.

Solid experience in attracting, hiring, developing and coaching a strong and talented staff. Has successfully built cohesive teams that have consistently stretched profit and business objectives. Builds productive, collaborative, cross-functional relationships across the organization.

Fiscal planning and budget adherence.

The Reebok brand has moved their HQ to a 220,000 square-foot section of the Innovation and Design Building in Boston’s Seaport District. This move has brought community fitness to a next generation design and innovation space; the all new workplace fosters a vibrant collaborative culture and allows the brand to be closely connected to the community in Boston. Alongside state-of-the-art office spaces, the headquarters is equipped with an employee fitness center and a retail store.