About the job

Description
Position at KEEN Footwear
General Summary
The VP, Global Business Technology, will lead our global entities to define, prioritize, build, and deliver transformative initiatives that will enable our future growth through technology. The role will be accountable for six functions within our Global Business Technology organization: Enterprise Platforms, Digital Technology, Business Intelligence, Infrastructure, Product Management & Delivery, and Security. As an experienced global technology leader, this role will build a modern and inclusive culture that weaves together emerging technology trends, proven enterprise approaches, and a focus on creating a global team to deliver innovative technology solutions. As a member of the KEEN Global Leadership Team (K-Team) reporting directly to the president, this role will represent and advocate for technology investments and priorities that will support KEEN’s Long-Range Plan priorities. This leader will have their pulse on the latest trends in the technology landscape and will help evangelize and transform our company to become a more technology enabled global business.
Essential Responsibilities

• Sets the technology vision and operating model across the KEEN global footprint
• Collaborates across KEEN and Fuerst Group entities to ensure all commercial and support technology needs are fully vetted, prioritized, budgeted, and implemented (including but not limited to: Insights & Engagement, Sales, DTC, Manufacturing, Finance, People & Culture, etc.). Ensures that all infrastructure and IT systems investments have been fully vetted, total cost of ownership has been modeled, and confirmation on business value is delivered. In partnership with in-house and external legal counsel, ensures that the technological processes and services comply with all requirements, laws, and regulations
• Evangelizes new approaches to leverage technology and tools to build culture, enhance communication, capture and manage knowledge, and empower a hybrid style of working
• Brings an informed perspective on technology trends, industry-specific technology challenges, and is a thought leader on how technology will continue to transform our business
• Evaluates all technology contracts and key partnerships to ensure alignment with future vision and Long-Range Plan priorities
• Establishes and maintains partnerships with key technology vendors, solution integrators, and strategic advisors to ensure strong relationships throughout all phases of the vendor and project lifecycles
• Accountable for a Product Management & Delivery organization to set the governance structure, product management methodologies, and project management playbook for large-scale, technology-enabled projects
• In close partnership with our manufacturing and supply chain leaders, develops a long-range plan, blueprint, and leads a portfolio of projects to bring more real-time transparency and integration into our owned manufacturing and overall supply chain model
• Accountable for ensuring that critical systems and processes are properly monitored, secured, and that business continuity and disaster recovery plans are in place
• Accountable for modernizing our technology development processes and workflows to ensure timely delivery and quality throughout the organization (ie. DevOps, Agile Scrum, etc.)
• Develops a global organizational model to ensure scalable operations and local support structures. Leads and mentors a diverse organization of multi-disciplinary skillsets and roles to operate as an integrated, high-functioning team with clarity on near and long-term goals
• Leads the annual budgeting lifecycle for each cost center within this organization and manage all ongoing accounts payable and procurement activities with support from financial business partners

Minimum Qualifications

• 15+ years of combined experience in global enterprise technology leadership, enterprise project management, engineering management, and digital product management
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering or related preferred; or equivalent combination of experience and education
• Demonstrated leadership capability including ability to attract, manage, lead and inspire a team of technology and business leaders
• Experience in leading Waterfall, Agile, and Hybrid global IT transformation projects
• Proven success in delivering large-scale technology transformations at global branded manufacturing organizations
• Experience working within the footwear and outdoor industry preferred
• Experience working within a family-owned, values-led company preferred
• Experience working with enterprise technologies such as SAP, Centric, Manhattan, Shopify, PowerBI, Snowflake preferred
• Demonstrated technology leadership in empowering Direct-to-Consumer, eCommerce, and Digital Wholesale business models
• Exceptional presentation and speaking skills; viewed as a trusted authority on modern enterprise technology trends
• Advanced business and organizational skills
• Experience directing multiple projects with competing resources and deadlines
• Flexible and adaptable. Able to build 360-degree trust
• Skilled communicator and active listener, able to communicate and lead across all levels of the organization

Travel Required
Up to 15% of work time will involve travel
Status: Full-time, salaried
Why Work at KEEN: Driven by a passion for life outside, KEEN is a values-led, independently owned brand from Portland, Oregon, that’s on a mission to create original and versatile products, improve lives, and inspire outside adventure. Founded in 2003, KEEN launched a revolution in the footwear industry with the introduction of the Newport adventure sandal, and has donated more than $18 million to non-profit organizations and causes around the world to promote responsible outdoor recreation, including conservation efforts to protect open spaces. KEEN strives to show the world through its products and its actions that a business for good can actually be good for business. By giving back, reducing impact, and activating communities and individuals to protectthe places where we work and play, KEEN puts its values in motion and takes action to leave the world a better place.
At KEEN, we believe in a more just and equitable future for all people. As a global brand, we acknowledge that our business, buildings, and daily lives exist within the traditional territories of indigenous peoples. We strive for a future that recognizes the knowledge, rights, and resilience of these peoples.
KEEN Footwear is an equal opportunity employer. We value an inclusive and diverse community. Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.