Senior Product Line Director

at  Clarks

The Senior Product Line Director is responsible for planning a global product strategy for Women’s collection and managing the development of footwear ranges in both the US and UK that support both the brand and gender strategy to meet the needs of consumers in global markets, delivering the identified portfolio and margin targets for the collection.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE :

Significant experience as Range Manager/BU Director or equivalent plus additional experience in other areas of the business

EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF:

Footwear and shoemaking – constructions, leather, other materials, cost components etc.
Current footwear market trends
Effective retail marketing and selling techniques
Well developed managerial skills
Knowledge of Global market/consumers

TECHNICAL SKILLS :

Shoe making experience
Thorough knowledge of development and sourcing requirements
MS Office proficiency e.g.: Excel, Word, Power Point
Expert understanding of Range Tracker /PLM
Expert understanding of product costing process
Excellent presentation skills

SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE :

Reviewing and improving existing planning processes
Planning a product range with a clear structure and using meaningful criteria
Challenging and continuously seeking improvement – e.g. in design, in shoe technology
Writing and communicating clear design briefs
Instinctive recognition of good and bad aesthetic appeal of a prototype shoe to its target consumer – particularly last shape and material
Tenacity to make sure that new designs are 100% right
Managing a pod team without a direct reporting structure
Leading and mobilising resources from across the business to deliver objectives
Working with people from different countries (in sources or sales territories)
About Clarks
Clarks, based in Somerset, England, has been at the forefront of innovative shoemaking since its foundation in 1825, when brothers James and Cyrus Clark made a slipper from sheepskin off-cuts. At the time it was ground-breaking: a combination of invention and craftsmanship that has remained at the heart of what the brand does now. In the Clarks archive of more than 22,000 pairs are shoes that have sparked revolutions and defined generations. From the original Clarks Desert Boot, first designed by Nathan Clark and launched in 1950, to the iconic Wallabee, each design has an instantly recognizable signature that makes it unmistakably Clarks.
This season, we’re proud to introduce the Clarks Collective: five incredible activists championing authentic social change. From mental health awareness and LGBTQ+ rights to greater racial equality, these trailblazers are committed to creating a brighter future for us all – bringing to life Clarks’ new global campaign, For the World Ahead. Through spotlighting their stories and supporting their chosen charities and initiatives, we’re ready to lead the way. After all, we’re originators, not imitators. It’s who we are, who we’ve always been. And to change the world of tomorrow, we’re doing things differently today.
As a global employer, Clarks is committed to embracing diversity throughout our workforce by creating an inclusive environment that reflects the many cultures and locations where we work. We strive to create a productive environment which everyone has an equal chance to succeed at all levels through the organization. We will not discriminate on the basis of sex, age ,disability, marital status, color, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or gender re-assignment’, complying with local legislative requirements

Plan the global product strategy for the collection.
Capture the product plans in a manner suitable for quality regional and specific market engagement.
Plan and manage the development of complex footwear line for the collection in both Street and Newton, that meet the needs of target consumers in all four regions.
Ensure that shoe lines are designed, developed and delivered to the agreed timetable, fit and quality standards, and are commercially viable for sources to develop and manufacture in order to minimise costs and lead times.
Deliver portfolio and margin targets for the category
Manage an overhead/expenses budget for the BU/Pod.
Suggested product prices for the collection.
Deliver design briefs on time
Share best practices across the geographical product team for collection.
Maintain an in-depth understanding of the target consumers’ needs and market trends in global markets.
Deliver constant creativity in product design and inspire fresh creative focus, differentiating Clarks from competitors.
Develop the professional skills and competencies of the product team both in the UK and US.