Vice President, Creative Director (The North Face)

As the senior creative product leader you will be accountable for establishing the creative director design vision, strategies, and standards across the global product categories for Footwear, equipment, Accessories and apparel. Lead the global creative direction of the global product creation to produce high profile, industry leading, technical and innovative product. Manages creative, developing strategies that will produce work that delivers both an emotional connection with our consumers and business results. Brings a track record in managing successful creative and design teams. A strategic leader with the ability to conceive and create innovative thinking and ideas.

Vice President, Creative Director

As a trusted and collaborative member of our global product leadership team, you will report to Chief Product and Merchandising Officer. You’ll lead the creative design teams including color, graphics, and prints.

How You Will Make a Difference

What you will do:

• Guide color direction working with the design directors and working closely with the color and trend resources to ensure the seasonal color trends and needs are met.
• Provide creative teams with direction, assets and guidelines for cutting the brand strength into global, regional, and local product executions. This includes seasonal storytelling, color, material and graphic direction. Manage creative workflow and resources and set processes & protocol.
• Manage and foster creativity within the design and graphics team through inspiration methodologies and other L&D tools to ensure that the company creates and develops products that meet the needs of our consumers.
• Be the brand's design philosophy champion and custodian.
• Drive and assist in the creation of global art packages for global inspiration and direction. Contents to include label and package direction, visual and graphic language for each Activity Business silo and in cooperation with Brand Design.
• Define the creative vision and conceptual development/style of all product lines which will delight the customer and drive the growth of our overall business.
• Partners with Marketing to translate marketing strategies into clear messages across all communication points including retail, advertising, web, events, PR, entertainment and corporate communications.
• Partner with the global Product VP and Territory GM’s on setting conceptual strategies, while directing Brand Design teams to ensure a holistic brand-creative/design approach.
• Work closely with Marketing to establish and drive key strategies, concepts and projects.

How you will do it:

• Foster and maintain collaborative partnerships with the Global product VP / Merchandising leaders to develop compelling product stories and collaborations and with the Marketing leader to establish and drive key brand strategies, the brand creative vision, and market strategies to drive big ideas and newness to ensure continued innovation and brand elevation
• Through actions and example, ensure values, including inclusion, diversity, social and environmental stewardship, are fully incorporated into business strategies and interactions
• Attract and develop design professionals to enhance individual growth and build a talent pipeline to ensure the future success of the business

What success looks like:

• As you establish strategic direction, you drive for execution with a passion for results
• You are a creative and innovative leader with an engaging, inspiring executive disposition
• You possess the business acumen and consumer understanding, ability to drive execution and decision-making, build strategic work relations with trust and effective communication, and deliver on your commitments.
• In building and maintaining a successful team, you coach and develop others with empowerment and by facilitating change while leveraging cultural diversity
• With global acumen, you cultivate networks with compelling communication, influence, and cultural and interpersonal relationships
• With your leadership skills, you sell the vision, build organizational talent, encourage entrepreneurship, and coach and develop others by leading change

Free to Be, Inclusion & Diversity

As a purpose-led, performance driven company, we strive to foster a culture of belonging based on respect, connection, openness, and authenticity. We are committed to building and maintaining a workplace that celebrates the diversity of our associates, allowing them to bring their authentic selves to work every day.

Skills For Success

Years of Related Professional Experience: Must be a talented designer with at least 15 years of creative design and at least 8 years in a managerial/senior-level capacity.

Formal education and subsequent undergraduate/graduate degrees, such as a master’s or bachelor’s degree, preferably in Art and Design, Fashion, or a related field, are nice to have, but we are most interested in your total experience and professional achievements.

What we expect you already know:

• A strong comprehension of Understanding and knowledge of fabrics, sketch potential and color potential.
• Recognition of the brand’s target market and consumer attributes
• The ability to balance creativity and bottom-line business needs
• The ability to negotiate, influence, and collaborate with other key decision-makers in a complex matrixed environment
• Understanding and knowledge of fabrics, sketch potential and color potential.
• Knowledge of costing components and product fabrication with the ability to achieve margin targets
• A true understanding of regional consumer preferences and market differences
• An in-depth knowledge of design techniques, processes, and technology
• A proven ability to create a new concept and bring it to reality
• A strong eye for product aesthetic and visual product merchandising
• Profound expertise in product design and creation
• The resourcefulness to influence cross-functional and regional teams
• Must have a deep understanding of market trends and customer demands in both retail and wholesale.

What we will teach you:

• To inspire others to step outside and make it better, make a difference by using purposeful actions first and encourage others to join you, believe in collaboration and work to create positive transformations, and initiate and propose bold ideas for innovation, development, and progress.
• How to grow, both professionally and personally, with tailored training – from a thorough induction to ongoing online and face-to-face training
• To thrive in a supportive feedback-based culture where respect and integrity guide us in what we do
• Career ownership, enabling you to build your knowledge and experience across different brands and even other countries
• Be part of an inclusive environment where people of diverse backgrounds, lifestyles, and nationalities love working together

VF Guiding Principles: Live with Integrity, Act Courageously, Be Curious, Act with Empathy, and Persevere.

What’s In It For You

We’re in the business of unleashing human potential, driven by the ideas, energy and commitment of our people. That’s why we offer comprehensive benefits that encourage mental, physical and financial well-being for all VF associates. When it comes to benefits, we’re the total package. Go to MyVFBenefits.com and click on “Looking to Join VF?” to learn more.

Our Parent Company, VF Corporation

VF is one of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies connecting people to the lifestyles, activities and experiences they cherish through our family of iconic outdoor, active and workwear brands. At the heart of our journey lies our company-wide purpose: We power movements of sustainable and active lifestyles for the betterment of people and our planet. This is our purpose. It’s the reason we come to work every day. It’s a commitment shared by our global associates across all brands. Our purpose unites us and leads us to pursue our goals, together. This is our calling. Learn more at vfc.com.

We just have one question. Are you in?

Pay Range:

$267,840.00 USD - $401,760.00 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.

Long_Term_Incentive:

This position is eligible to be nominated annually to participate in a Long-Term Incentive Plan. Specific details of the plan 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 pay 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.