Director of New Business

International sporting goods manufacture and distributor in Ventura CA has an opening for Director of New Business.

If you are interested, or has experience in silent sports(no motors) and environmental health of our planet, please review following job description.

The Director of New Business develops product, marketing, and distribution sales strategies for water sports categories that may include but are not limited to: Surf,  paddling and fishing. S/he will also provide input to the related Accessories, Socks, and T-Shirt programs.

Essential Job Functions:


o Responsible for managing direction of expressive, functional product that helps achieve revenue, gross margin, inventory levels, and profit contribution.
o Lead establishment of market strategy and direction; develop and implement a business plan that includes sales strategies, staffing needs and seasonal line plans.
o Develop lines that will resonate with the global market, and develop market specific product where appropriate.
o Plan product lines and lead development to achieve product, market, business and organizational goals which also advance company-wide brand and environmental goals.
o Set sales budgets, manage the sales/support teams including surf/water sports ambassadors.
o Set product direction in conjunction with the VP Design and Design Group.
o Push the model of corporate/environmental responsibility for future new business initiatives.

Market Research
o Gain insight into proper line development by exposure to consumer and/or sport end user in the appropriate businesses, which may include, but are not limited to, surfing, paddling, and fishing.
o Articulate opportunities/concepts to the Company - flow information into the design team, production, sales channels and buying groups.
o Take product into market during development to gauge response.
o Gather input from sales channels/buyers/market to help in line development.
o Create a seasonal line plan for categories and contribute to the overall business plan for Company.
o Forge bonds with international channels to facilitate information flow.
o Define market research needs to the Marketing Department for execution.

Product Development
o Establish strong working partnerships with Design, Development and Production to develop products that stay true to the Company's design and environmental principles.
o Be willing to evaluate and propose strategies that include elements of risk.
o Maintain the Company's quality standards in all products, and work to exceed these standards.

Marketing
o Working with the Marketing Department, craft tools and implement marketing messages that clearly state category and individual product positioning.
o Lead the planning and execution of global marketing materials including catalogs, advertisement, point of purchase and sales materials.

Merchandising
o Set direction for product merchandising in the sales channels.
o Collaborate with buyers to ensure that the buy and seasonal inventory levels of all products support the product vision. The Director of New Business has a strong voice in orchestrating the buy so product development plans are properly represented to support new categories and products, color breadth and distribution representation.
o Work with Retail to fine-tune point-of-sale displays and site selection.

Financial Responsibilities
o Generate revenue and initial margin plan for each season.
o Set strategies for growth of market share for each category.
o Develop and maintain team's budget.
o Manage sales forecasting, allocation, and margin management.
o Ensure business results meet company requirements for P&L, cash flow, and inventory management, asset utilization.



Physical Requirements:
o Must be able to sit for extended periods of time.
o Ability to look at a computer screen for extended periods of time.
o Ability to maintain a composed and professional demeanor within a flexible and (at times noisy) work environment.
o Must be able to travel utilizing various transportation methods.

Minimum Job Qualifications:

o English/Japanese fluency is preferred.
o Bachelors Degree required.
o Entrepreneurial experience preferred: A history of creatively translating a vision into reality, ideals into action.
o Extensive experience and passion for sport(s) and/or related to the position: Surf, Paddling, Fishing.
o Strong working knowledge/experience in sports(s) and/or markets targeted by the following lines: Alpine/Rock Climbing, Trail Running, Skiing/Snowboarding.
o Demonstrated understanding of the key drivers of sales in specific distribution channels within complex markets.
o Significant experience developing/implementing marketing strategies having demonstrated success in driving sales and achieving targeted objectives.
o Leadership as a business founder/owner, project manager, team or group leader or innovator or developer of a product.
o Sales or marketing experience in wholesale, retail or direct businesses.
o Demonstrated experience in managing product gross margin and operating expenses.
o Experience managing and motivating teams of creative, individualist professionals.
o Outstanding written, verbal, quantitative and presentation skills.
o Working knowledge of personal computers with experience in the use of such programs as Word, Excel and Outlook.