DIRECTOR, BRAND PLANNING - FOOTWEAR - Timberland

VF Corporation; Stratham (NH); Hybrid; USD 144,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive plan

Commission potential

Job summary

Timberland, based in Stratham, New Hampshire, is seeking a Director of Brand Planning for Footwear to drive top‑line growth via long‑range financial plans, margins, and inventory optimization. You will align regional and global plans and educate cross‑functional partners under the Head of Brand Planning.

You will lead a global planning team, develop MFP, forecast demand, and optimize product availability while adapting strategies to local markets.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Merchandise Planning, Buying, or Financial Planning.
• At least 5 years in a leadership/managerial role.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience driving revenue and profitability in a global, multi‑channel retail environment.
• Candidates with regional/local market experience are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Create long‑term financial ambition and targets (sales, margin, inventory).
• Translate long‑range plans into top‑down MFP tied to regional inputs.
• Support global merchandising on line architecture and align with global line plan.
• Develop and consolidate demand forecasts with regional/global partners.
• Analyze inventory and advise on introductions/exits to meet demand.
• Perform seasonal roll‑ups across regions to drive visibility.
• Coach and build a best‑in‑class planning organization.
• Adapt global strategies to local markets and monitor trends and competition.
• Lead and mentor a global team of planning professionals and drive change management.
• Oversee system and data governance with digital technology teams.

Skills

Emotional intelligence

Communication

Strategic vision

Cross-functional leadership

Forecasting

Inventory planning

Consumer insights

Global revenue growth

Leadership experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/finance or related field

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Tools

ERP system

BI analytics

Job description

At Timberland, we’re a force of nature. We’re a team that steps outside, works hard together, and moves the world forward. The brand is widely recognized as the arbiter of boot culture. With a rich heritage of craftsmanship and an eye toward the future, Timberland has a decades-long commitment to make products responsibly, protect the outdoors, and build 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 fun, adventure-loving people, Timberland just may be the place for you.

To learn more about our values and our culture, visit www.timberland.com.

Timberland: Director, Brand Planning – Footwear

What will you do?

Focused on our brand footwear line, this high‑impact role will be instrumental in driving sales, margin, and inventory optimization while aligning with the company’s strategic goals and providing financial framework to our product organization. This role will not only take part in continuing to evolve this function but will broadly educate cross‑functional partners on how planning will enable aspects of their function. Reporting directly into the Head of Brand Planning, this position keeps the footwear business on track to achieve seasonal and long‑range financial objectives by aligning regional & global plans and ensuring product availability meets demand. Key responsibilities include creating top‑down merchandise financial plans (MFP), driving the bottoms‑up forecasting process, maintaining forward‑looking perspective on consumer demand, collaborating on capacity planning, and optimizing inventory. This is a hybrid role, based in our office in Stratham, New Hampshire.

• Create long‑term financial ambition / targets (e.g., sales, margin, inventory, assortment breadth, etc)
• Translate LRP to create top‑down MFP (setting line target to drive revenue and margin) incorporating regional inputs. Additionally, in partnership with merchandising build connectivity of the LRP and MFP to create product level plans (style, color, attribute, etc).
• Support global merchandising on building line architecture & align on global line plan. Validate line plan against MFP.
• Develop & consolidate demand forecasts (with regional planning, global merch, supply chain, & finance).
• Analyze inventory across regions, recommending product introductions & exits to meet demand, with consumer perspective with sell‑through.
• Seasonal roll‑ups across regions, in partnership with global planning, to drive global visibility & drive adjustments for future seasons.
• Coach, develop, and build a best‑in‑class planning organization.
• Adapt global strategies to meet unique needs of individual markets, balancing global consistency and local relevance. Monitor market trend, competitor activity, and customer behavior to inform planning decisions.
• Utilize advanced analytics and market data to inform planning decisions and identify growth opportunities. Establish KPIs to monitor performance across sales, margin, and inventory levels. Continuously refine forecasting models to improve accuracy and agility.
• Lead and mentor a global team of merchandise planning professionals, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. Build and scale processes to support growth across regions and product categories. Drive change management initiatives to implement new tools, technologies, and methodologies.
• System and data governance – working closely with digital technology teams.

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 in Merchandise Planning, Buying, or Financial Planning, with at least 5 years in a leadership position of managerial experience.

• High degree of emotional intelligence & communication skills to foster a collaborative team environment and build strong relationships.
• Strategic vision with the ability to articulate a clear, long‑term strategy.
• Cross‑functional leadership communication and influence.
• Strong Analytical skills with expertise in demand forecasting, inventory management, and financial modeling.
• Consumer insight and empathy with a deep understanding of consumer needs, trends, and local cultural nuances.
• Proven success in driving revenue and profitability growth in a global, multi‑channel retail environment.
• Experience working with diverse markets with a strong understanding of regional differences in retail and consumer behavior.

There are also a few skills that are not required but preferred.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Experience with merchandise planning tools and technologies (eg: ERP, BI, or AI‑driven analytics platforms).
• Strong background in digital commerce and omnichannel planning strategies.

Hiring Range:

$144,000.00 USD - $180,000.00 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

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 [e-mail]. 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 SanFrancisco Fair Chance Ordinance, VF will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.