Cloudsteppers - Director, Product Strategy

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT STRATEGY-CLOUDSTEPPERS The Director of Product Strategy - Cloudsteppers is responsible for creating and leading the product strategy for Cloudsteppers. The Buyer is responsible for selecting and curating footwear and related merchandise from Clarks' internal product collections for Cloudsteppers-specific retail stores and cloudstepper.com. This role involves attending range presentations, identifying the right products and feeding in insights to ensure the right product is available for the Cloudsteppers brand, and aligning selections with consumer preferences and business goals. The Director, Product Strategy - Cloudsteppers will work closely with merchandising, marketing, product and sales teams to ensure strategies support overall brand and commercial objectives. This is a global role requiring agility, initiative, and a startup mindset to build and evolve an emerging business channel. What You'll Do: Lead the development of the product strategy appropriate for the designated market and proposition across all categories and channels, within a global brand framework. Select products from internal collections for Cloudsteppers retail stores and e-commerce platform. Brief in product opportunities and requirements. Attend seasonal range presentations to evaluate and choose appropriate product assortments. Analyze sales data, market trends, and consumer insights to inform buying decisions. Partner with merchandising, marketing, product and sales teams to align product strategy with brand positioning. Manage seasonal product calendars, line plans, and assortment strategies. Monitor inventory levels and adjust product mix to optimize sell-through and minimize markdowns. Collaborate with planning and allocation teams to ensure timely product delivery and availability. Support the development of visual merchandising and promotional strategies for selected products. Act as a key stakeholder in shaping the Cloudsteppers product identity and growth trajectory. Influence as needed to ensure needs are heard and met. Engagement with global teams. What You'll Bring: Bachelor's degree in business, Marketing, or a related field. 5-7 years of global experience in merchandising, retail buying, or a related field. Proven ability to analyze sales trends and market data to drive product decisions. Strong negotiation and communication skills to influence internal stakeholders and external partners. Proficiency in inventory management systems and purchasing tools. Highly self-motivated with a proactive, entrepreneurial mindset. Comfortable operating in ambiguity and building processes from the ground up. Detail-oriented with strong organizational and multitasking abilities. Collaborative team player with experience working across functions and geographies. Deep understanding of consumer behavior and footwear or apparel industry trends. Disclaimer This document describes the general nature and level of work only. It is not designed to cover an exhaustive list of all skills, activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Other activities, duties, and responsibilities may be added at any time. This description may be changed at the company's discretion at any time, with or without notice. About Clarks Clarks, based in Somerset, England, has been at the forefront of innovative shoemaking since its foundation in 1825, when brother James and Cyrus Clark made a slipper from sheepskin off cuts. At the time it was ground-breaking: a combination of invention and craftsmanship that has remained at the heart of what the brand does now. In the Clarks archive of more than 22,000 pairs that have sparked revolutions and defined generations. From the original Clarks Desert Boot, first designed by Nathan Clark and Launched in 1950, to the iconic Wallabee, each design has an instantly recognizable signature that makes it unmistakably Clarks. This season, we're proud to introduce the Clarks Collective: five incredible activists championing authentic social change. From mental health awareness and LGBTQ+ rights to greater racial equality, these trailblazers are committed to creating a brighter future for us all-bringing to life Clarks' new global campaign, for the World Ahead. Through spotlighting their stories and supporting their chosen charities and initiatives, we're ready to lead the way. After all, we're the originators, not imitators. It's who we are, who we've always been. And to change the world of tomorrow, we're doing things differently today. As a global employer, Clarks is committed to embracing diversity throughout our workforce by creating an inclusive environment that reflects the many cultures and locations where we work. We strive to create a productive environment which everyone has an equal chance to succeed at all levels through the organization. We will not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, disability, marital status, color, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or gender re-assignment', complying with local legislative requirements. Actual compensation within a pay range will be based on factors including but not limited to a candidate's relevant experience, qualifications, performance, Clarks' business needs, internal equity and any statutory obligations. The pay range for this role may be modified by Clarks at any time in the future.