Director - Distribution (Americas) at Wolverine… · Rockford

Director - Distribution (Americas) Location: Rockford, MI Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE:WWW) is one of the world’s leading designers, marketers, and licensors of footwear and apparel; It’s global footprint spans 170 countries and territories. The Company’s portfolio includes Merrell®, Saucony®, Sweaty Betty®, Hush Puppies®, Wolverine®, Chaco®, Bates®, HYTEST®, and Stride Rite®. The Company is also the global footwear licensee of brands Cat® and Harley-Davidson®. Wolverine Worldwide is driven by a Vision to Make. Every Day. Better. for its consumers, partners, communities, and shareholders. In 2025, the Company was recognized by Footwear News as Company of the Year, by Forbes as one of America’s Dream Employers, America’s Best Employers for Women, and America’s Best Employers for Company Culture, and by Inspiring Workplaces as one of the Most Inspiring Workplaces Globally. Wolverine Worldwide is a Certified™ Great Place To Work®. The Distribution Director (Americas) is responsible for leading the strategic direction, performance, and continuous improvement of the company’s regional distribution network. This role oversees multiple distribution centers in the United States and Canada, ensuring operational excellence, cost efficiency, and alignment with enterprise priorities. The Director provides leadership to distribution center teams and cross‑functional partners, drives innovation, and ensures compliance with safety and regulatory requirements. This position plays a critical role in shaping the distribution function's future through data‑driven decision‑making, talent development, and strategic partnerships. Primary Duties: Operational Leadership Provides strategic leadership and oversight of daily operations across one or more distribution centers, ensuring consistent, scalable execution of receiving, fulfillment, shipping, and returns while aligning operational performance with enterprise service, productivity, and cost objectives through defined KPIs. Leads the development and implementation of standardized operational models and best practices across facilities, partnering closely with supply chain, transportation, and customer service teams to drive network‑wide alignment, efficiency, customer experience, and consistency across brands. Strategic Contribution Partners with executive leadership to define and execute long‑term distribution strategies that support business growth, customer satisfaction, and market expansion, leading strategic initiatives such as capacity modeling, network optimization, and infrastructure investment across the distribution network. Provides enterprise‑level insight and influence by developing and presenting performance reports, forecasts, and strategic recommendations to senior leaders; guiding decisions related to fulfillment and inventory positioning; and staying closely aligned with external supply chain trends and emerging industry developments. Continuous Improvement and Innovation Champions enterprise-wide continuous improvement and transformation by leading cross-functional initiatives that modernize distribution capabilities through process innovation, automation, and digital solutions, while evaluating emerging technologies and industry trends to enhance network agility, scalability, efficiency, and customer responsiveness. Team Leadership Leads and develops a high‑performing team of distribution leadership and support staff across multiple locations by driving leadership capability, succession planning, and workforce engagement to ensure sustained organizational effectiveness. Fosters a culture of accountability, inclusion, and continuous learning by partnering with HR and senior leadership to shape and execute talent strategies that support both operational excellence and long‑term strategic objectives. Budget, Compliance, and Safety Develops and manages multi‑site distribution budgets, ensuring financial discipline, cost optimization, and alignment with overall business priorities and performance targets. Ensures enterprise‑wide compliance and workplace safety by overseeing adherence to internal policies, regulatory and industry standards; leading safety and risk mitigation programs; and maintaining audit and inspection readiness across all distribution operations. Decision-Making & Communication Makes high‑impact, data‑informed decisions that drive operational performance, customer experience, and financial outcomes, while representing the distribution function in enterprise planning and key strategic initiatives. Serves as a strategic liaison between distribution operations, executive leadership, and internal and external partners by providing actionable insights, recommendations, and fostering cross‑functional collaboration to ensure alignment and execution. Perform duties consistent with the company’s AAP/EEO goals and policies. Performs other duties as required/assigned by the manager. Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required: Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred. 10+ years of progressive experience in distribution, logistics, or supply chain operations, including leadership of large teams and multi-site operations. 5+ years of management experience with direct reports and/or indirect leading of teams/mentoring, and coaching experience required. Preferred: Professional certifications such as Six Sigma, PMP, APICS, to support strategic execution and compliance. Strategic & Executive Communication: Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, senior stakeholders, and cross‑functional partners and employees to align enterprise‑wide operational priorities, performance expectations, safety standards, and policy direction across multiple distribution sites. Enterprise Operations Oversight: Proven experience providing strategic oversight of multi‑site or network‑level distribution operations, including establishing performance frameworks, standardizing processes, analyzing enterprise metrics, and aligning labor and capital resources to meet service, cost, productivity, and safety objectives. Organizational Leadership & Talent Management: Strong capability to lead and develop distribution leaders and management teams, including experience with succession planning, leadership development, performance management, and fostering an inclusive, high‑performance culture. Employee Relations, Compliance & Governance: Demonstrated ability to oversee employee relations and workforce governance at an enterprise level through consistent application of policies, partnership with HR, sound judgment in complex employment matters, and promotion of a compliant and respectful work environment. Strategic Decision‑Making & Influence: Proven ability to make high‑impact, data‑driven decisions that balance near‑term operational needs with long‑term business strategy, influence enterprise stakeholders, prioritize investments, manage risk, and lead large‑scale improvement initiatives. Leadership Presence & Change Management: Demonstrated executive presence, professionalism, and integrity, with experience leading through organizational change, building strong cross‑functional relationships, and representing the distribution function in support of enterprise strategy and growth. 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.