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At Saucony, we exist for runners. Runners inspire us, bring us new ideas, force us to be better. They drive our design and engineering. They keep us competitive. They keep us hungry. They keep us honest. Whether it’s in a conference room or out on a lunchtime run, we’re constantly talking about and arguing about our sport, runners and the products that fuel them. We love our products and we run in everything we make. This focus and passion fuels us as we strive to create the best running shoes and apparel on the planet. We leave work each day knowing we’ve done everything to make runners’ lives just a little bit better.

Saucony is seeking a strategic and dynamic Director of Global Brand Partnerships & Retail Activations to lead the brand’s initiatives at retail, with a particular focus on key franchises and elevating our presence in the lifestyle segment. This role will partner closely with retail partners—both traditional sporting goods retailers and cultural drivers—to drive significant growth in shoe sales, revenue, and brand love. By creatively activating our brand at the retail level, you will play a critical role in shaping consumer perception and engagement, delivering on Saucony’s goals of brand growth and visibility.

The Director of Global Brand Partnerships and Retail Activations will lead efforts to engage both core athletes and the broader lifestyle consumer, ensuring Saucony remains a key player at the intersection of performance and culture. This role will require a balance of strategic thinking, innovative activation, and retail performance management.

Primary Duties:

1. Retail Brand Strategy & Execution

• Develop & Drive Retail Activation Strategies: Develop and execute retail brand activation plans that align with Saucony’s key franchise initiatives, focusing on driving both performance and lifestyle segments at the retail level.

• Increase Footwear Sales: Collaborate with key retail partners to increase product sell-through, optimize placement, and elevate brand presence in stores through creative activations.

• Strategic Retail Partnerships: Build and nurture strong, long-term partnerships with key accounts in sporting goods, lifestyle, and specialty retail (e.g., Dick’s Sporting Goods, Foot Locker, Fleet Feet). Align strategies with their needs to enhance visibility and sales.

2. Retail Experience Innovation

• Create Memorable Retail Experiences: Design and implement innovative in-store experiences that reflect Saucony’s brand values and product stories. Focus on driving consumer engagement and loyalty at the retail level.

• Maximize Key Franchise Moments: Leverage key product launches and retail calendar moments to drive consumer attention, increase revenue, and build long-term brand equity.

• Enhance Consumer Journey: Continuously innovate retail experiences to keep pace with evolving consumer behavior and expectations, while ensuring these experiences are aligned with the broader brand goals.

3. Lifestyle Segment Engagement

• Elevate Lifestyle Segment Presence: Work to elevate Saucony’s presence within the lifestyle segment, focusing on accounts that are critical for brand relevance and growth in the broader cultural space.

• Cultural Relevance: Develop campaigns and activations that resonate with the lifestyle audience, driving both brand love and conversion through strategic partnerships with key accounts.

• Collaborate Across Functions: Partner with marketing, product, and sales teams to ensure that retail activations are cohesive with broader brand messaging and product offerings, creating unified campaigns that speak to both performance athletes and lifestyle consumers.

4. Key Account Development & Performance

• Focus on Account Growth: Lead productive conversations and collaborative efforts with key accounts to ensure that our retail activations and product launches drive measurable success.

• Drive Revenue & Market Share: Set and achieve key performance indicators (KPIs) for retail activations, including revenue targets, sales growth, and increased market share at retail.

• Retailer Education & Support: Develop tools and resources to support retailers in selling Saucony products more effectively, ensuring they have the necessary training and materials to enhance product knowledge and consumer engagement.

5. Leadership & Team Development

• Lead Cross-Functional Teams: Collaborate with internal teams including sales, product development, and creative to ensure seamless execution of brand activations.

• Develop Talent: Lead and mentor a high-performing team focused on retail activations and partnerships, cultivating a culture of creativity, collaboration, and performance.

• Manage External Partners: Work with external agencies, creative partners, and retail teams to ensure the successful execution of retail strategies and activations.

6. Performance Tracking & ROI

• Monitor Impact: Track the effectiveness of retail campaigns and activations through key metrics, including sales data, brand engagement, and ROI.

• Optimize Strategies: Regularly assess and refine strategies based on performance data and consumer feedback to ensure continued growth and success.

KEY MBO’S (Management by Objectives)

• Revenue Growth: Drive year-over-year increases in shoe sales through strategic retail activations and brand partnerships.

• Retail Footprint & Presence: Increase Saucony’s presence in key lifestyle and sporting goods accounts, particularly those that drive cultural relevance and sales.

• Brand Love & Engagement: Elevate Saucony’s brand perception within the lifestyle segment by creating innovative retail experiences that resonate with consumers and drive advocacy.

• Account-Specific Success: Achieve specific performance targets with key retail partners, including Dick’s Sporting Goods, Foot Locker, Fleet Feet, and others, ensuring that our activations drive measurable sales results.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Retail Management, or a related field. An MBA is a plus.

• Experience: At least 10 years of experience in retail brand management, brand partnerships, or retail activations, with a focus on driving sales, brand awareness, and customer engagement.

• Expertise: Proven experience in managing brand activations within both performance and lifestyle segments, particularly in the footwear or apparel industry.

• Retail Acumen: Strong understanding of the retail landscape, consumer behavior, and trends, particularly within sporting goods, footwear, and lifestyle.

• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence key stakeholders across the business.

• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a track record of building strong relationships with both internal teams and external partners.

• Analytical Thinking: Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data, make informed decisions, and optimize strategies based on results.

• Creative Vision: A passion for developing innovative retail activations and experiences that drive consumer engagement and brand success.

Working Conditions:

Normal office environment.

Wolverine Worldwide has a flexible, hybrid work schedule, with three days in office and two days remote.

#LI-KD

Salary Minimum

$136,000.00

Salary Maximum

$178,500.00

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills which may be required.

Wolverine Worldwide, Inc. is committed to creating a company that is as diverse as our consumers. We value the differences in one another and believe our differences make us stronger. Our diverse and inclusive corporate culture starts with the recruitment process. We are committed to being an equal opportunity employer. We aim to create equal opportunities for our associates, customers, and suppliers regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected characteristic.