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Director, Operations
【Summary】
Provides strategic & operational leadership of Japan Operations, associated functions and strategic direction to ensure alignment in policies and approach to relevant process areas.
Accountable for Customer Service & overall sales order book management, Supply Chain management including warehousing & logistics, Demand Planning & Inventory Management and all activities related to projects and initiatives to support regional and global operations continuous improvement.
A senior member of the Japan Management Team and Regional Operations Management Team offering key support to the Country GM and regional VP, Operations and Global Supply, representing China/regional initiatives and creating partnerships with global and regional stakeholders to facilitate the progression of existing ways of working.
【Key Responsibilities】
• Create a Business Planning Calendar to ensure all market stakeholders operate to clear expectations of accountabilities and timelines within the context of global constraints and commercial expectations.
• Provide full and comprehensive Customer Service & Operations support for inventory purchases, overseeing order book production and shipping and offering query management resolution and guidance.
• Design, develop and implement a suite of effective and robust Marketplace Planning, Demand Planning, & Inventory Management procedures and disciplines.
• Develop, communicate, and monitor all elements Customer Service policies & procedures for the market ensuring best-in-class standards of customer relationship management, proactive dialogue with all internal functional partners & stakeholders and the maximization of profitable sales.
• Develop a best-in-class distribution and logistics cost optimized network without sacrificing service or On-Time-In-Full delivery.
• Lead and direct all activities related to global and regional projects on technology implementation and optimizing operational capabilities.
【DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES】
20%
Create a Business Planning Calendar to ensure all market stakeholders operate to clear expectations of accountabilities and timelines within the context of global constraints and commercial expectations.
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Drive a cohesive and effective approach to all elements of the seasonal business planning calendar thereby producing more proactive behaviors, less reactivity and better considered upstream outputs.
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Oversee the business-critical path ensuring any obstacles to effective achievement of Plan are identified and the risk mitigated.
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Define and set expectations and implement policies reflective of market strategy and oversee execution.
Provide full and comprehensive Customer Service & Operations support for inventory purchases, overseeing order book production, shipping, and offering query management resolution and guidance.
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Collaborate closely with Sales, Sales Operations, Customer Service, and Finance to build partnership and resolve complex order issues and streamline cross-functional workflows.
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Ensure team and individual role profiles and objectives maintain alignment with business goals
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Drive consistency of service, approach and execution, and promote climate of positive, solutions-oriented teamwork in all teams.
20%
Design, develop and implement a suite of effective and robust Marketplace Planning, Demand Planning, & Inventory Management procedures and disciplines.
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Build a sustainable and collaborative demand planning process, with local market accountability for accurate forecasting, stock utilization and ultimate inventory levels and cash flow impact.
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Deliver effective analytics and metrics allowing all stakeholders to achieve targets and challenge markets to maintain focus on inventory measures and impact on profitability.
20%
Develop, communicate, and monitor all elements Customer Service policies & procedures for the market ensuring best-in-class standards of customer relationship management, proactive dialogue with all internal functional partners & stakeholders and the maximization of profitable sales.
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Provide effective monitoring of order book status, maintenance, reporting, highlighting issues, and mitigating challenges.
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Ensure effective and timely execution of the order book from order capture, through production and shipment, to customer delivery.
20%
Develop a best-in-class distribution and logistics cost optimized network without sacrificing service or On-Time-In-Full delivery
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Develop strategies to optimize inventory flow, reduce freight costs, and improve last-mile delivery performance.
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Oversee all warehouse operations to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and safety.
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Manage relationships with 3PL partners and logistics providers, negotiating contracts, and ensuring service level and quality.
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Oversee network of warehousing and delivery solutions required to execute all order book requirements in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
20%
Lead and direct all activities related to global and regional projects on technology implementation and optimizing operational capabilities.
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Act as a local leader in all E2E Planning, Order Management, and Distributions and Logistics projects.
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Challenge status quo, think outside the box, and deliver future proof automated solutions where applicable.
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Introduce improvements to ways of working, policies or systems solutions to raise service levels or productivity.
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Formulate and execute the strategic roadmap for the entire supply chain network, including warehouse design, footprint optimization, and transportation strategies.
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Own local budgeting for operations and projects partnering with finance, local leadership, and supply chain leadership to ensure targets are met.
【QUALIFICATION】
Education & Any Certifications Required
• Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• CPIM or CSCP desired.
Year(s) of Experience & Background Required
• Fluent in English and Japanese
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in senior management / directorial responsibility in sizeable commercial enterprises with direct accountability for relevant Operations-linked functions.
• Significant experience of footwear / apparel lifestyle /fashion sector and procedures from forecasting to customer operations.
• Experience of a senior management in Asian or global business, operating with regional / local sub-structure
• Experience of significant change management projects within a complex international organization
• Experience of satisfying the needs of diverse constituents in a complex global organization often working under the pressure of competing or conflicting priorities
• Experience in Sourcing, Logistics, Planning.
Character and Personal Qualities
• Strong people leadership
• Ability to develop a strategy, anticipate changes, develop contingency plans, and drive execution in a very fast pace and complex environment. Able to influence and lead in a matrix environment
• A natural leader who takes responsibility for driving and delivering results. Knock down walls to deliver results, drive Transformational change, and continuous improvement
• Strategic yet “hands-on” management style with excellent team building skills
• Flexible and adaptable to change, innovative manager with people and processes
• Consumer Focus; Commercially aware
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively address all levels of the organization
• Project management, negotiating, and organizational skills
• Unwilling to accept the status quo and challenges people and process improvement
• Excellent team working and interpersonal skills
• Able to demonstrate a knowledge and passion for the brands
• Prompts healthy dialogue where all opinions are valued, and people feel respected. Role models inclusive practices
• Displays humility by being open to new ideas, seeking to learn, and not caring about who gets credit
• Models and promotes collaboration across the organization to achieve shared goals by bringing cross-functional partners together and supporting decisions as if they are their own
• Creates a vision that inspires the teams, and drives execution in a very fast pace and complex environment
• Asks insightful questions to encourage creative thinking and innovation; is a great listener
• Demonstrates curiosity and agility; drives change through effective communication strategies
• Demonstrates tenacity to achieve results, no matter the barriers, while role-modelling the company values
• Empowers the decision-maker to make decisions and upholds decisions once made
• Finds ways to simultaneously achieve financial and ESG goals
• Keeps teams motivated by providing opportunities to contribute to society