Vans: Director, Business Operations and Strategy

VF Corporation • Costa Mesa, CA

11d

About The Position

Vans is the original brand rooted in the authentic lifestyle of skateboarding. We are driven by our mission to inspire and empower everyone to live “Off The Wall” – embracing the youthful spirit of freedom, non-conformity, and relentless progression. Yesterday’s “Off The Wall” moment is today’s new normal, and at Vans, we believe in constantly outdoing ourselves. Together with our communities across the globe, our vision is to push culture forward because we believe that the pursuit of progression never ends. We are constantly inspired by the future generation of positive catalysts within our community. So, before we get to the job details, take a minute to learn a little more about us – our values and our culture. If you can see yourself working side-by-side with a team of people who think and live “Off the Wall,” Vans just may be the place for you. To learn more about our values and our culture, visit Vans Careers or www.vans.com . What will you do? A day in the life of a Director, Business Operations & Strategy at Vans looks a little like this. Reporting to the Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, this role is a key driver of how the Vans business operates day to day. Serving as a true right hand to a senior executive, the Director strengthens operating rigor across the organization , optimizing how the business works while helping shape strategy and translate it into action. This highly visible role operates in a complex, ambiguous environment with frequent engagement at the most senior levels. Partnering closely with leaders across functions and regions, the Director improves processes, builds durable frameworks, and drives cross- functional execution against clear priorities, KPIs, and long term financial and operational goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance or related field; MBA strongly preferred
• 10+ years of experience across strategy, operations, management consulting, corporate development, or general management roles
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in both strategic and executional modes
• Strong financial acumen with comfort building and interpreting models
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and work cross-functionally in a global, matrixed environment
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level presentations
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word

Nice To Haves

• Experience in consumer brands, retail, or omni-channel businesses
• Exposure to operating cadence design, governance, or transformation initiatives
• Background in consulting, internal strategy, or Chief of Staff–type roles
• High learning agility, sound judgment, and a bias toward action
• Entrepreneurial Mindset – background in startups, scaling brands, or entrapreneurship within a corporation

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with the Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer to shape and evolve Vans’ long-term growth strategy, including KPIs, leading indicators, and execution plans
• Lead and support the 5-Year Long Range Plan (LRP) for the global brand, including process management, financial modeling, and functional coordination
• Actively support the Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer in preparing Board of Directors materials, long-range strategy decks, and ELT presentations, etc.
• Act as connective tissue across functions (Brand, Product, Merchandising, DTC, Wholesale, Finance, Operations) to ensure clarity, accountability, and follow-through
• Lead and support high-priority cross-functional initiatives focused on revenue growth, margin improvement, cost discipline, and organizational effectiveness
• Manage complex, ambiguous projects initiated by senior leadership from problem definition through execution
• Serve as a thought partner to functional leaders by pressure-testing ideas, synthesizing inputs, and shaping clear recommendations
• Design and implement frameworks, governance models, and operating rhythms that enable faster decision-making and cross-functional alignment
• Conduct market, channel, category, and competitive analysis to inform strategic decisions and investment trade-off s
• Manage global dashboards and reporting to VF Corporate, including quarterly business reviews and ad-hoc executive requests

Benefits

• extensive development and growth opportunities for your current and future positions
• a competitive compensation package
• a strong benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and 401(k)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director