Manager, Footwear Calendar & Operations Integration

Who We Are:

Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today.

JOB MISSION:

As the Footwear Calendar and Ops Integration Manager, you will oversee the Footwear Creation Calendar strategy and operations, serving as a key liaison across all global creation to shelf functional areas of the brand. Key partners include global teams such as Product Creation, Merchandising, Demand Planning, Sales, Product and Digital Operations, Sourcing, and Supply Chain. This role ensures that milestones and critical cross-functional events and tasks are identified and flow as needed throughout the creation cycle to maximize time and efficiency and support the 'head to toe' Go To Market strategy for the brand. Understanding the business and product flow from kickoff to customer is essential to proactively identifying areas of opportunity that support and drive both the Go To Market process and the integrated global creation operational milestones, deliverables, and tasks.

You will lead the ongoing management of seasonal product creation calendars and ensure global teams are aware and engaged to successfully execute against key priorities and deliverable deadlines. Success in this role will require a high level of collaboration and influence with cross-functional stakeholders with often competing priorities. Your job will require facilitating and influencing alignment, identifying risks to deliverables, and partnering to create opportunities for a successful path forward. You will lead initiatives that support current execution and/or create opportunities that enable a reimagined future state. You will require a solid understanding of each functional area and become a trusted partner to lead and facilitate alignment to the process, timelines, and handoffs. You will serve as an operational thought partner to help drive incremental and dynamic changes with actionable solutions, partnering closely across all levels of the organization and within the Product Operations team to best resolve conflicts, manage high-level seasonal workflow, and ensure alignment and transparency across all global stakeholders. This role is based at New Balance headquarters in the Boston area.

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Own the creation, communication, and ongoing maintenance/updates for the NB Footwear Product Creation Calendar; publish to internal stakeholders and provide clear visibility to critical milestones and deadlines throughout the creation and GTM process.

• Continuous management of the seasonal product creation operating model. Refine processes and calendars as needed and update all calendar tool input and documentation on an ongoing basis.

• Anticipate risks to deliverables and create paths for mitigation and resolution.

• Collaborate within Operations Team, GTM teams, Data Quality, System Integration teams as needed to ensure well-maintained current state and/or future state process flow and tools development.

• Partner with cross-functional teams across all levels of the organization to identify opportunities for improvements and lead various cross-functional initiatives as directed.

• Continuously look to innovate and improve processes in support of optimized operational progression and excellence.

• Collaborate with the GTM Ops team and participate in supporting and improving the GTM process by proactively identifying opportunities to align, support, and/or improve New Balance GTM process success.

• Cultivate and maintain a strong culture of trust, accountability, and commitment through relationship building and proven success as a trusted partner and change agent.

• Ability to manage large projects and coordinate across multiple stakeholders in support of brand strategic initiatives.

• Ability to distill complex dependencies within the operations calendar flow for key partners to support decision-making, identify areas of risk, and/or identify opportunities for high-impact improvements.

• Leadership skills and a strong desire to learn, lead, and create change through expertise, influence, and being an open-minded and trusted partner are required.

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS:

• 10+ years of Project Management/Operations Experience in the Footwear and Apparel Industry

• Expertise in product life-cycle activities and development timelines, within a fashion industry environment a plus

• Experience in working with complex calendar management, PLM systems (MS Project, Smartsheet, VibeIQ, etc.)

• Self-motivated and results-oriented manager with strong interpersonal, communication, and partnering skills

• Attention to detail and follow-up with excellent multi-tasking and organizational skills

• Ability to work effectively with creative teams to foster relationship-building and collaboration

• Ability to effectively influence decision-making and/or change in the absence of direct management

• Champion for change and able to manage disruption with ease

• Flexible and creative problem-solver

• Analytical and dynamic thinker who can think outside the box to find the best possible outcomes

• Personal professionalism, high level of confidence, and sense of accountability

Regular Associate Benefits

Our products are only as good as the people we hire, so we make sure to hire the best and treat them accordingly. New Balance offers a comprehensive traditional benefits package including three options for medical insurance as well as dental, vision, life insurance and 401K. We also proudly offer a slate of more nontraditional perks - opportunities like online learning and development courses, tuition reimbursement, $100 monthly student loan support and various mentorship programs - that encourage our associates to grow personally as they develop professionally. You'll also enjoy a yearly $1,000 lifestyle reimbursement, 4 weeks of vacations, 12 holidays and generous parental leave, because work-life balance is more than just a buzzword - it's part of our culture.

Temporary associates are provided three options for medical insurance as well as dental and vision insurance and an associate discount.

Part time associates are provided 401k, short term disability, a yearly $300 lifestyle reimbursement and an associate discount.

Flexible Work Schedule

For decades we have fostered a unique culture founded on our values with a particular focus on in-person teamwork and collaboration. Our North American hybrid model encourages rich in-person experiences, showcasing our commitment to teamwork and connection, while maintaining flexibility for associates. New Balance Associates currently work in office three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). Our offices are fully open, and amenities are available across our North American office locations. To continue our focus on hybrid work we have introduced "Work from Anywhere" (WFA) for four weeks per calendar year. This model will help us enhance our culture while continuing to maintain elements of flexibility.

Equal Opportunity Employer

New Balance provides equal opportunities for all current and prospective associates and takes affirmative action to ensure that employment, training, compensation, transfer, promotion and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment are provided without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, handicap, genetic information and/or status as an Armed Forces service medal veteran, recently separated veteran, qualified disabled veteran or other protected veteran.