VP, GM - Keds

Designer Brands Inc.•Burlington, MA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Vice President - General Manager for Keds is responsible for establishing the vision, strategy, and direction for assigned footwear brands. This role is accountable for achieving or exceeding sales, market share, and profitability objectives across all channels. The VP - GM leads the development and execution of wholesale, eCommerce, and international distribution strategies, ensuring alignment of product, merchandising, marketing, and commercial initiatives to drive growth. Through strong cross-functional leadership, this executive translates consumer insights and market opportunities into compelling brand and product strategies, while fostering operational excellence, organizational alignment, and sustained business performance.

Requirements

Effectively communicates performance expectations through both written and verbal communication that inspires action and alignment.
Demonstrates proactive problem-solving by anticipating challenges, leveraging data and insights, and making sound decisions that drive business results.
Influences and aligns stakeholders across functions and levels to achieve shared brand and business objectives.
Negotiates effectively with internal and external partners to deliver favorable outcomes while building and maintaining strong relationships.
Develops and executes strategic plans that drive revenue growth, profitability, consumer engagement, and long-term brand health.
Demonstrates intellectual curiosity and fosters innovation by seeking new perspectives, leveraging consumer, market, and industry insights, and encouraging continuous improvement.
Leads by example with strong executive presence, business acumen, integrity, and authenticity, earning the trust and respect of teams and stakeholders.
Identifies untapped market opportunities by connecting consumer insights, market trends, and competitive intelligence. Translates those insights into a focused strategy and clear roadmap that drives growth, differentiation, and long-term success.
Demonstrates strong financial aptitude and ownership of the business, using P&L expertise, forecasting, and data analytics to balance risk, uncover opportunities, and deliver profitable growth while building long-term brand value.
Motivates, develops, and retains talent through recognition, coaching, and a commitment to building an inclusive and engaging culture.
Proven experience creating / managing brands and having the skills to operate one
10 years Brand / Product / Marketing experience
8 Years People Management experience
Bachelor’s Degree in a related field

Responsibilities

Establish and communicate a clear vision, strategy, and growth roadmap for assigned brands, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and long-term value creation.
Deliver or exceed annual sales, market share, gross margin, and profitability targets across wholesale, direct-to-consumer, eCommerce, and international channels.
Lead the development and execution of integrated commercial strategies that optimize brand performance across all channels while maintaining a consistent consumer experience.
Direct product, merchandising, marketing, and go-to-market strategies to ensure a compelling consumer proposition and achievement of financial objectives.
Identify and capitalize on consumer insights, market trends, and competitive opportunities to drive innovation, brand relevance, and profitable growth.
Build, develop, and lead high-performing teams through clear expectations, accountability, coaching, and talent development.
Serve as the primary business leader and advocate for the brand, influencing key stakeholders and ensuring organizational alignment around strategic priorities.