Join the thousands of innovators, advocates and forces who are making an impact every day at one of the biggest footwear brands in the world. Whether you love to connect with consumers on the retail floor or want to drive our award-winning powerhouse in new directions, the SKECHERS team is the place to be. Learn more about our brand at skx.com.

Job Purpose

The Director of Apparel Operations for Skechers Apparel serves as the critical link between the different teams within the Apparel department and the cross-functional departments that support and interface with the Apparel Division.

The DOAO’s duties will include managing and training the merchandise operations team, working collaboratively with functional apparel directors and cross-functional departments to support and drive adherence to internal processes and timelines within the Apparel Division.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESULTS

PRODUCT CREATION

• Collaborate and influence cross functionality with Design/Tech Design/Merchandising/PD/Sales to ensure cohesive production timelines are achieved.
• Maintains Calendars, Time and Actions, SOPs for the Apparel Division; working in collaboration with the PCTD to execute business objectives on schedule specifically for all product creation outputs and milestones.
• Coordinate and balance priorities with PCTD (Product creation team directors) to meet all key milestones dates from ideation through to commercialization.
• Document and communicate clear actionable SOPs for the key milestone items along the master TNA, as established by the PCTD/VP. 
• Maintain and communicate best practices and expectation for meetings, line reviews, sales conferences, marketing handoffs.  Ensure completion by cross-functional teams of all coordinated requirements on schedule.

DOCUMENTATION AND REPORTING

• Manage operational aspects of the product creation process in PLM and across enterprise systems and reporting so there is access to accurate data in which to make informed business decision.
• Create and maintain departmental reporting.
• Act as a training resource for the apparel team on all corporate systems and process that support the apparel business.

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL: Marketing, International Merchandising, Retail, Allocations, Vendor Compliance

• Collaborate with Sales and Merchandising to develop seasonal GTM Time and Action calendars for all aspects of Marketing Apparel and coordinate with PD/DG for sample development and delivery.
• Sample needs for marketing including: SMS, PhotoStudio Samples for lifestyle and ecomm photo shoots, VIP/Celebrity/Athlete, Tradeshow and Showroom Mannequins and Model, Promotional Events.
• Create and manage sample receiving, tracking and documentation for incoming and outgoing apparel samples.
• Insure International apparel product line needs, costing and calendars are maintained and communicated with the International Merchandising team.  Follow up on season end reporting for all countries; understand, document and inform the teams what is working and not working within the global landscape.
• Manage the International SMS order process and follow up with DG apparel team to insure complete and timely delivery of samples ahead of order due dates.
• Work in partnership with the Retail Team to influence and execute product assortments that support the overall product vision and marketing stories aligned to with Senior Management and Executive team.  Insure the retail team has clear line direction, Time and Action calendars, to build productive product assortments that deliver on time.
• Follow through on PO placement by coordinating wholesale, retail, and international orders.  Create PO analysis and document learnings for future line planning and on order positions.  Work with corporate allocations to help support and troubleshoot apparel POs and insure fluid communication of accurate production reporting.
• Maintain updates to Apparel Vendor Manual across all departments that need to communicate SOPs, requirements to vendors that Apparel does business with.
• Insure all active vendors and factories and compliant and required documentation current. 

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Yes

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Product development, Production, Buying and Merchandising background required.
• Must have effective communication skills, strong analytical and logical skills, and work well with others.
• Must be results driven and dedicated towards goals. 
• Must display critical thinking with high attention to detail.
• Must have leadership skills including strategic thinking, creative problem solving, people development and process management. 
• Must be able to accurately estimate completion of deliverables. Proactively identify roadblocks and take initiative to resolve.
• Must have the ability to develop strong working relationships with peers, managers and partners.
• Must be able to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and be adaptable to accommodate shifting timelines and priorities. 
• Must be self-motivated with the ability to work with focus and purpose and a strong sense of urgency.
• Must have a strong background and understanding of PLM systems. 
• Must demonstrate proficient skill level in Microsoft Office Suite; Excel, Power Point, Word required.  Creative Cloud, Illustrator and InDesign a plus.
• Must display a high degree of professionalism, tact and diplomacy including confidentiality. 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s Degree Required.
• 3-5 years in a managerial position with experience in apparel product creation process from ideation through to commercialization with a merchant understanding of the end consumer.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The skills, abilities and physical demands described are representative of those duties that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified for the job position, to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

 While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to walk; sit, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel. The employee is occasionally required to sit for long period of times.  

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.