Director of Strategy

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (United States); Rockford (IL); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Travel opportunities

Job summary

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is seeking a Director of Strategy to advance sustainable growth through strategic planning, business analysis and portfolio management.

You will partner with corporate leadership, brand teams and centers of excellence to drive execution and change across a global consumer brand. The role requires 7+ years in strategy/consulting, strong financial modeling, and a deep understanding of consumer brands in the footwear/apparel space.

Qualifications

• Requires 7+ years of strategy, consulting and consumer products experience.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred for leadership roles.
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills to drive growth and portfolio decisions.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with corporate leadership to develop strategic growth agenda and align brands.
• Evolve and drive the strategic planning process, frameworks, tools and governance.
• Provide planning leadership and support to brands on positioning, priorities and investment choices.
• Identify adjacent and white space opportunities aligned with portfolio strategy.
• Lead complex analyses of consumer, market, competitive and financial data.
• Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives from concept to implementation.
• Build relationships across the organization to influence enterprise strategy decisions.
• Cultivate a culture of strategic thinking, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Strategy & consulting

Financial modeling

Brand building

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/finance/economics/marketing/strategy

MBA (preferred)

Job description

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW) is a global footwear and apparel company driven by a vision to Make. Every Day. Better. Founded in 1883, the Company builds and grows iconic brands including Merrell®, Saucony®, Wolverine®, Sweaty Betty®, Chaco®, Hush Puppies®, Stride Rite®, HYTEST®, and Bates®, along with footwear licenses for Cat® and Harley-Davidson®. Headquartered in Rockford, Michigan, the Company’s products are sold in approximately 170 countries and territories worldwide. For more information, visit www.wolverineworldwide.com.

In 2025, the Company was recognized by Footwear News as Company of the Year, by Forbes as one of America’s Dream Employers, America’s Best Employers for Women, and America’s Best Employers for Company Culture, and by Inspiring Workplaces as one of the Most Inspiring Workplaces Globally.

Wolverine Worldwide is a Certified™ Great Place To Work®.

As the Director of Strategy, reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer, you will play a critical role in advancing Wolverine Worldwide's sustainable growth agenda through strategic planning and execution, business analysis, key enterprise initiatives, and portfolio management. You will partner and work at the corporate level, with our brand teams, and across our functional centers-of-excellence. This high leverage position will have significant exposure to senior leadership and be expected to combine the analytical rigor of consulting, the financial mindset of corporate development, and the practical business leadership required to drive change within a global consumer brand organization.

Primary Duties

• Collaborate with corporate leadership in developing strategic growth agenda and partner with business units to ensure strategic alignment and deployment of brand-building model across the organization
• Evolve and drive strategic planning process, frameworks, tools, and governance
• Provide strategic planning leadership, thought partnership, and support to brands to ensure alignment on clear and coherent positioning, strategic priorities, objectives, investment choices, and growth plans to enable effective execution and business growth
• Lead the identification and assessment of adjacent and white space opportunities that align with portfolio strategy and growth objectives
• Lead and conduct complex analysis combining consumer, market, competitive, and financial data
• Lead key cross-functional strategic initiatives from concept through implementation
• Develop strong relationships across the organization and spanning all levels, influencing decisions in alignment with the company’s enterprise strategy
• Elevate a culture of strategic thinking, accountability, analytical rigor, and continuous improvement
• Performs duties consistent with the Company’s AAP/EEO goals and policies.
• Performs other duties as required/assigned by manager.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• 7+ years of applicable professional experience in strategy, consulting, and consumer products
• Require bachelor's degree in business, finance, economics, marketing, strategy, or related field; prefer MBA from a competitive academic program
• Ability to assess complex business scenarios and develop focused, effective strategies and plans
• Understanding of building consumer brands and the apparel/footwear category
• Ability to work independently and effectively lead projects from concept to completion
• Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to analyze large amounts of complex data
• Ability to understand and develop financial modeling and business cases
• Strong communication skills that can translate analytics and insights into clear strategic recommendations
• Strong problem-solving and change management skills to ensure the successful implementation of new processes and practices

Working Conditions

• Normal office environment. Some travel required.
• Wolverine Worldwide has a flexible, hybrid work schedule, with three days in office and two days remote.

#LI-KD 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...

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.

Wolverine Worldwide is a global marketer of branded footwear, apparel, and accessories. With an established global footprint that spans approximately 200 countries and territories, as well as a rock-solid infrastructure, Wolverine Worldwide is dedicated to advancing the following brands that comprise the ever-expanding portfolio: Bates, Chaco, Cat Footwear, Harley Davidson Footwear, Hush Puppies, Merrell, Saucony, Sweaty Betty and Wolverine. Wolverine Worldwide’s continued success is driven by our ability to stay true to our simple mission: we empower, engage and inspire our consumers – every step of the way.