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 longterm financial and operational goals.
- 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-offs
- Manage global dashboards and reporting to VF Corporate, including quarterly business reviews and ad-hoc executive requests
What do you need to succeed?
We all have unique skills that we bring to work and celebrate every day. For this role, there are foundation skills you’ll need to succeed and excel. Additionally, while formal education in a related field is great to have, we are most interested in your 10+ years of experience and professional achievements.
The foundation skills you will need in this position are:
- 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
There are also a few skills that are not required but preferred.
- 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
What do we offer you?
At Vans, we know you expect as much from us as we do from you. That is why we make a commitment to support and grow our people. We offer extensive development and growth opportunities for your current and future positions, a competitive compensation package, and a strong benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).
Our commitment extends beyond this and into your daily work life. We strive to foster a diverse and inclusive culture based on respect, connection, and authenticity. Our focus on DEI is at the foundation of who we are and what we do.
To learn more about Vans’ benefits package, follow this MyVFBenefits.com and click “Looking to Join VF”.
To learn more about Vans‘ Diversity and Inclusion efforts, go to www.vans.com.
Hiring Range:
$159,840.00 USD - $199,800.00 USD annually
Incentive Potential: This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Specific details of the additional compensation eligibility for this position will be provided during the recruiting and interview process.
Benefits at VF Corporation: You can review a general overview of each benefit program offered, including this year's medical plan rates on www.MyVFbenefits.com and by clicking
Looking to Join VF? Detailed information on your benefits will be provided during the hiring process.
Please note, our hiring ranges are determined and built from market pay data. In determining the specific compensation for this position, we comply with all local, state, and federal laws.
At VF, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. If you require accommodations during the application process, please contact us at peopleservices@vfc.com. VF will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals to the extent required by applicable law.
Pursuant to all applicable local Fair Chance Ordinance requirements, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, VF will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
