Serving as a strategic thought partner to senior leadership and cross-functional teams, this role provides an objective view of the external marketplace, helping the organization understand where our brands are winning or losing, what is changing and why, and where future growth opportunities exist.
The Director synthesizes syndicated market data, consumer research, competitive intelligence, retailer performance, and industry trends to identify business implications and shape brand, commercial, and enterprise strategy.
Primary Duties:
Marketplace Intelligence
- Develop a comprehensive view of market performance across key categories, brands, channels, retailers, and consumer segments.
- Monitor market size, growth, share, pricing, distribution, and other key performance indicators.
- Identify emerging trends, growth opportunities, competitive threats, and shifts in consumer behavior.
- Translate complex marketplace data into clear business implications and strategic recommendations.
Competitive Intelligence
- Monitor competitor performance, earnings, strategic initiatives, product launches, partnerships, acquisitions, and distribution shifts.
- Assess competitive strengths, vulnerabilities, whitespace opportunities, and potential market disruptions.
- Develop executive-ready competitive profiles, market assessments, and strategic briefings.
Brand & Strategy Insights
- Partner with senior leadership to address critical strategic questions through quantitative and qualitative market intelligence.
- Apply a brand-specific lens to external trends, identifying implications and recommended actions.
- Inform long-range planning, strategy development, category prioritization, and growth initiatives.
Consumer & Trend Intelligence
- Identify shifts in consumer preferences, behaviors, and demographics and their implications for the portfolio.
- Connect marketplace data with primary consumer research to uncover the drivers behind market trends.
- Monitor cultural, fashion, economic, retail, and other macro trends that may influence consumer demand.
- Identify emerging consumer needs and whitespace opportunities that can inform innovation and brand strategy.
Retailer & Channel Intelligence
- Evaluate performance and trends across wholesale, DTC, ecommerce, specialty, sporting goods, department stores, marketplaces, and other relevant channels.
- Develop intelligence on key retailers, including growth, assortment strategies, category positioning, competitive presence, and evolving business models.
- Partner with commercial teams to bring fact-based marketplace context into customer and channel strategy.
Executive Communication
- Translate complex analysis into concise, compelling business narratives for senior leadership.
- Deliver regular market, category, competitor, retailer, and consumer intelligence updates.
- Develop dashboards and recurring intelligence reporting focused on the metrics, trends, and developments most critical to the business.
Data, Tools & Analytics
- Lead the continued development and adoption of the organization’s proprietary AI-powered Market Intelligence Agent.
- Oversee the effective use of syndicated data and market intelligence tools across the organization.
- Develop scalable processes, tools, and dashboards that improve access to and application of market intelligence.
Cross-Functional Leadership
- · Serve as a strategic thought partner across Strategy, Product, Sales, Marketing, Consumer Insights, and senior leadership.
- · Proactively identify emerging business questions and opportunities rather than operating solely in response to requests.
- · Build organizational capability to interpret marketplace data and apply insights to business decisions.
- · Manage relationships with external data providers, industry experts, and other intelligence partners.
- Performs duties consistent with the company’s AAP/EEO goals and policies.
- Performs other duties as required/assigned by manager.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Market Research, Statistics, or Finance or equivalent experience.
- 8+ years of relevant market intelligence/data analysis experience or corporate strategy (client or vendor side).
- Passion for business reporting and analytics with demonstrated ability to use big data to influence decision making.
- Strong analytical skills; ability to translate research findings into actionable insights and recommendations.
- Experience in running correlation and statistical analyses, building multi-variate regression analyses and pricing models.
- Ability to develop reports/presentations that provide a compelling perspective on key business challenges.
- Ability to develop strong relationships with business partners and cross-functional team members.
- Experience in successfully managing and coaching direct reports.
- Ability to influence and lead within the organization as a market intelligence expert
- Experience in advising senior leaders on strategic issues.
- Strong communication and presentation skills are a must.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills along with proficiency in data visualization and statistical computing tools.
- Skilled in Microsoft Office programs: PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.
Working Conditions:
Hybrid (three-days in office) open office environment.
Some travel may be required.
#LI-KD
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills which may be required.
Wolverine Worldwide, Inc. is committed to creating a company that is as diverse as our consumers. We value the differences in one another and believe our differences make us stronger. Our diverse and inclusive corporate culture starts with the recruitment process. We are committed to being an equal opportunity employer. We aim to create equal opportunities for our associates, customers, and suppliers regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected characteristic.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Market Research, Statistics, or Finance, or equivalent experience
- 8+ years of relevant market intelligence, data analysis, or corporate strategy experience
- Experience using big data and business reporting to influence decision-making
- Strong analytical skills and ability to translate research findings into actionable recommendations
- Experience conducting correlation and statistical analyses
- Experience building multivariate regression analyses and pricing models
- Ability to develop compelling reports and presentations addressing business challenges
- Ability to build strong relationships with business partners and cross-functional teams
- Experience managing and coaching direct reports
- Ability to influence and lead as a market intelligence expert
- Experience advising senior leaders on strategic issues
- Strong communication and presentation skills
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency with data visualization and statistical computing tools
- Proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word
Wolverine Worldwide Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Wolverine Worldwide and has not been reviewed or approved by Wolverine Worldwide.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Total rewards include on‑site fitness programs, discounted gym memberships, subsidized cafeterias, substantial product discounts, and amenities like dog daycare and trails at select locations. Coaching access, mentoring, and leadership development further reinforce a wellbeing‑oriented experience.
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Parental & Family Support — Offerings span paid parental leave, adoption assistance, and, at some locations, on‑site daycare. Mental health services and an Employee Assistance Program add family and caregiver support.
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Retirement Support — A matched 401(k) plan and an employee stock purchase plan provide tools for long‑term financial security. Financial wellness programming is available to help employees maximize these benefits.
Wolverine Worldwide Insights
What We Do
Founded in 1883 on the belief in the possibility of opportunity, Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW) is one of the world’s leading marketers and licensors of branded casual, active lifestyle, work, outdoor sport, athletic, children's and uniform footwear and apparel. Through a diverse portfolio of highly recognized brands, our products are designed to empower, engage and inspire our consumers every step of the way. The company’s portfolio includes Merrell®, Sperry®, Hush Puppies®, Saucony®, Wolverine®, Keds®, Stride Rite®, Chaco®, Bates®, and HYTEST®. Wolverine Worldwide is also the global footwear licensee of the popular brands Cat® and Harley-Davidson®. Based in Rockford, Michigan, for more than 130 years, our products are carried by leading retailers in the U.S. and globally in approximately 170 countries and territories.
