Director, Strategy

Ariat International; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 124,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global apparel brand in the United Kingdom is seeking a Director of Strategy to develop and implement innovative market strategies. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in strategy consulting, preferably in the apparel and footwear sectors. This role emphasizes leadership, financial analysis, and strategic thinking to influence the company’s growth initiatives.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance

Wellness and mental health benefits

Paid time off and paid holidays

401(k) with company match

Bonus incentive plans

Team member discount on merchandise

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in strategy or consulting preferred in apparel or footwear.
• Proven ability to lead team dynamics and develop high-performers.
• Strong financial modeling and analytical skills are required.

Responsibilities

• Drive Ariat's overall strategy and translate into actionable initiatives.
• Research market trends and evaluate business opportunities.
• Lead the Strategy team and mentor members.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Team leadership

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA

Job description

About the Role

At Ariat, we are seeking an energetic, collaborative, and forward‑thinking Director of Strategy to develop and support the execution of our go‑to‑market strategy. The role will report to the Vice President of Strategy & Analytics, and work closely with the Senior Leadership Team and the broader organization.

Through rigorous analyses, focus on our customers, creative thinking, and deep partnership with cross‑functional stakeholders, the Director of Strategy develops the overall strategic direction for Ariat. This person will support the prioritization and implementation of near‑term initiatives, and identify / assess longer‑term growth opportunities across our Retail, eCommerce, Wholesale, and International business segments.

Ariat currently has a hybrid schedule, and this role will be working in our San Leandro, CA office a minimum of three days per week.

You’ll Make a Difference By :

• Developing and driving Ariat’s overall strategy, and translating the strategy into specific initiatives and transformation efforts that drive profitable growth
• Researching and synthesizing market and competitive intelligence to understand current trends and industry dynamics – and what they mean for Ariat, both short‑ and long‑term
• Evaluating new business opportunities, including market potential, brand / customer fit, competitive positioning, capability requirements, and business cases
• Supporting cross‑functional teams to provide clear insights and strategies for key growth initiatives in their respective areas, and how these “ladder up” to Ariat’s overall strategy
• Assessing growth and capability investments (e.g., Artificial Intelligence), including use case prioritization, business impact, and change management required
• Partnering with consumer insights and analytics teams to embed “voice of the consumer” into our strategies – with a clear articulation of the “so‑what”
• Evaluating underlying drivers of business performance and opportunities for improvement (e.g., sales trends, consumer loyalty, channel growth, etc.)
• Synthesizing findings and developing clear and compelling materials that communicate our strategies to the Board, Senior Leadership Team, and the broader organization
• Leading the Strategy team, providing strategic guidance, thought leadership, and mentorship that supports personal and professional development
• Assisting with other responsibilities based on business needs

About You

• 10+ years of work experience in strategy or strategy consulting for wholesale and direct‑to‑consumer companies. Experience in the apparel and / or footwear industry strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required. MBA preferred.
• Track record of leading and developing high‑performing teams
• Entrepreneurial mindset, with a track record of building new capabilities or supporting a business through an accelerated growth and transformation period
• Demonstrated track record as an outstanding problem solver and strategic thinker with the ability to quickly identify key issues and develop hypotheses
• Ability to translate complex ideas and dispersed information into simple, actionable recommendations
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills, with the ability to oversee and provide support to cross‑functional partners and / or more junior team members
• Organizational skills, including project planning, time management, and attention to detail
• Strong business acumen related to consumer‑facing businesses and the ability to assess the impact of decisions on overall business performance
• Strength in written and oral communication with proven ability to connect with and influence senior executives
• Strong ability and willingness to collaborate effectively as a true team player
• Demonstrated interest in retail and apparel / footwear

About Ariat

Ariat is an innovative, outdoor global brand with roots in equestrian performance. We develop high‑quality footwear and apparel for people who ride, work, and play outdoors, and care about performance, quality, comfort, and style.

The salary range for this position is $165,000 - $185,000 per year.

The salary is determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data for geographic locations. Ariat in good faith believes that this posted compensation range is accurate for this role at this location at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.

Ariat’s holistic benefits package for full‑time team members includes (but is not limited to)

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options
• Expanded wellness and mental health benefits
• Paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and paid volunteer days
• 401(k) with company match
• Bonus incentive plans
• Team member discount on Ariat merchandise

Note: Availability of benefits may be subject to location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements. Ariat reserves the right to alter these benefits in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.

Please note that Ariat does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Agreement, Ariat will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter / agency placement fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed Agreement, Ariat explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted directly to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Ariat.