Senior Director of Sales

HBCUvc; Rockford (MI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is seeking a Senior Director of Sales to lead the North America wholesale sales organization focused on six strategic accounts.

The role drives retailer partnerships, profitability and sales growth across Wolverine, Cat Footwear, Merrell Work & Tactical and Bates brands. Responsibilities include setting team strategy, revenue planning, hiring and developing the sales force, and aligning incentives with corporate goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Sales, Marketing or equivalent; MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of sales experience in footwear or retail management.
• 3+ years at a senior management level managing multiple channel sales leads.
• Strong business management, product management, and understanding of consumer/retail environment.

Responsibilities

• Set vision and strategy for the sales team with segment plans by product category, channel, and account.
• Oversee revenue and SG&A planning, target-setting and financial achievement.
• Hire, develop and evaluate a sales team aligned with company growth.
• Establish compensation and incentive programs with Finance.
• Develop training standards for excellence in presentation and account management.
• Lead key account management and sell-in/sell-through strategies.

Skills

Sales leadership

Strategic planning

People management

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

MBA preferred

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Senior Director of Sales

The Senior Director, Sales sets strategic direction and provides leadership oversight and general sales management for the Work Group Portfolio’s North America wholesale sales organization with a high-priority focus on our six (6) Strategic Accounts. This leader will direct and lead a team to build strong retailer partnerships, think beyond the status quo, deliver high account profitability and productivity and maximize sales volume for Wolverine, Cat Footwear, Merrell Work & Tactical and Bates brands.

Job Description

Primary Duties:

• Sets vision and strategy for the sales team; develop specific segment plans by product category, channel, and account to ensure growth in all revenue streams
• Responsible for revenue and SG&A planning, target-setting and delivering the yearly goals. Works with Finance to achieve financial plan.
• Oversee hiring, development and performance evaluation of a sales team and organization, appropriate for the company’s growth and size
• Partner with Finance and HR to establish appropriate compensation and incentive programs commensurate with corporate goals and marketplace competition
• Establish training programs that fall under specific standards and expectations of excellence in presentation, product knowledge, account management and retail finance (sales, margins, and turns)
• Maintains positive open lines of communication with all Wolverine Worldwide management, staff, sales peers and other departments to contribute to the smooth flow of information and efficient operation of the organization.
• Drive process for all sales related tasks in assigned categories, including projections / pre-lines / key account management / sell-in strategy / sell-through strategy.
• Presents selling strategy, marketing initiatives and products to key retailers, sales force and internal personnel to ensure efficient sell-in.
• Win at Point-of-Sale by partnering with Marketing and implementing strategic key account management programs to drive brand goals and growth.
• Maintain key customer relationships and develop and implement strategies for expanding the company’s customer base in all channels
• Provide input on prices in accordance with company margin targets.
• Partner with Merchandising, Planning and Finance to develop all pricing policies, volume discounts, program parameters, discount terms and conditions, and other appropriate incentives.
• Coordinate, lead, and signoff on forecasts in conjunction with Sales team, Merchandising and Planning and working very closely with Demand Planning and Finance.
• Perform duties consistent with the company’s AAP/EEO goals and policies.
• Perform other duties as required/assigned by manager.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Sales, Marketing or equivalent work experience; MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of sales experience in the footwear industry or equivalent experience in retail management or buying.
• 3+ years of experience at a senior management level, including experience managing multiple channel sales leads.
• Solid business management and product management skills.
• Strong understanding of the consumer, retail environment and competitive marketplace.
• Thorough PC knowledge and proficiency in MS Word, Excel and Power Point.
• Ability to effectively deliver product presentations to business analysts, media, retailers, sales force and large groups verbally, and express complex concepts and technical material in written format.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict timelines while managing multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Identify/evaluate problem areas and recommend effective solutions.
• Strong leader, communicator and analytical thinker with the ability to build team dynamics and relationships cross-functionally.

Working Conditions

Normal office environment. Frequent travel is required (50% of time.). Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs. Flexibility to work outside normal hours to meet deadlines. Share |

Company 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®(opens in new window), Saucony®(opens in new window), Wolverine®(opens in new window), Sweaty Betty®(opens in new window), Chaco®(opens in new window), Hush Puppies®(opens in new window), Stride Rite®(opens in new window), HYTEST®(opens in new window), and Bates®(opens in new window), along with footwear licenses for Cat®(opens in new window) and Harley-Davidson®(opens in new window). Headquartered in Rockford, Michigan, the Company’s products are sold in approximately 170 countries and territories worldwide. For more information, visit www.wolverineworldwide.com(opens in new window).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®.