Director, Global Projects & Strategy

Job Summary

The Director of Strategy & Project Management is a leadership role responsible for driving enterprise-wide strategic planning and disciplined execution of cross-functional initiatives at KEEN. This role partners closely with Finance to ensure strategic priorities are grounded in financial rigor — connecting long-range planning, capital allocation, and operational execution across all functions. The Director translates strategic vision into structured project plans and ensures initiatives are delivered on time, on budget, and in line with KEEN's values-driven mission.

The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with exceptional organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills who thrives in complex, fast-paced environments.

Essential Functions

Description

Strategic Planning & Financial Alignment

• Lead the planning, execution, and successful delivery of strategic initiatives across multiple business functions.
• Partner with executive leadership to translate business strategy into executable programs and project portfolios.
• Prioritize projects based on organizational goals, resource capacity, and business value.
• Partner with FP&A to ensure strategic initiatives are grounded in sound financial modeling, ROI analysis, and capital allocation discipline.
• Conduct market, competitive, and category analysis (outdoor footwear/lifestyle industry) to inform strategy.
• Translate enterprise strategy into actionable roadmaps, goals, and KPIs tied to business outcomes.
• Provide regular portfolio health updates, risk assessments, and recommendations to senior leadership.

Project Management Office (PMO) Leadership

• Own the portfolio of cross-functional strategic initiatives from initiation through completion.
• Establish and maintain project governance frameworks, timelines, budgets, and risk registers.
• Standardize project management methodology, tools, and reporting across the organization.
• Manage dependencies and resource allocation across concurrent, cross-functional projects, and proactively resolve conflicts.

Execution & Performance Tracking

• Build and maintain dashboards/scorecards tracking progress against strategic and financial objectives.
• Report regularly to the executive team on initiative status, risks, financial impact, and outcomes.
• Identify execution gaps and proactively course-correct plans.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with Finance, Product Creation, Supply Chain/Operations, Sales, Marketing and other functional group leaders to align priorities.
• Lead or coach matrixed project teams without direct authority.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CFO and senior leadership on organizational priorities, trade-offs, and resource allocation.

Team Leadership

• Build and manage a small team of project and program managers.
• Mentor staff on strategic thinking, financial acumen, and project execution.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and growth-oriented culture.
• Build organizational project management capabilities through training and coaching.

Risk & Change Management

• Establish enterprise-level risk management practices for project delivery.
• Anticipate organizational impacts and lead change management efforts to support adoption.
• Resolve escalated issues and remove barriers impacting project success.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies and governance requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Operations, or related field required.
• Master's Degree in Business preferred.
• Eight (8) to twelve (12) years of experience in strategy, management consulting, FP&A/finance, or program management.

Any equivalent combination of experience and education which clearly indicates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position may substitute on a year for year basis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proven track record leading complex, cross-functional initiatives to completion.
• Strong financial modeling and analytical skills; comfort partnering closely with Finance.
• Excellent executive-level communication and presentation skills
• Experience with project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, PMP, or similar).
• Preferred
  • Experience in consumer products, footwear, apparel, or outdoor/lifestyle brands.
  • Management consulting background.
  • PMP, PgMP, or Six Sigma certification.
  • Genuine interest in sustainability, outdoor recreation, and values-driven brand-building.
  • Experience supporting domestic manufacturing or supply chain initiatives

Travel Required: Yes, up to 25% of the time.

Base Salary: $205,000 - $220,000

The salary range posted for this position represents the anticipated hiring range for this role. Offers are made within this range based on factors such as relevant experience, skills, education, internal equity, and market considerations. This is the hiring range for the position; compensation above the posted maximum is not typically available at the time of offer.

Work Location: Hybrid

This role is based in the Portland, OR area and follows a hybrid work model. Employees are expected to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of our Portland office and generally work on-site four days per week, with flexibility based on business and team needs.

Why Work at KEEN: Driven by a passion for life outside, KEEN is a values-led, independently owned brand from Portland, Oregon, that’s on a mission to create original and versatile products, improve lives, and inspire outside adventure. Founded in 2003, KEEN launched a revolution in the footwear industry with the introduction of the Newport adventure sandal and has donated more than $18 million to non-profit organizations and causes around the world to promote responsible outdoor recreation, including conservation efforts to protect open spaces. KEEN strives to show the world through its products and its actions that a business for good can actually be good for business. By giving back, reducing impact, and activating communities and individuals to protect the places where we work and play, KEEN puts its values in motion and takes action to leave the world a better place.

At KEEN, we believe in a more just and equitable future for all people. As a global brand, we acknowledge that our business, buildings, and daily lives exist within the traditional territories of indigenous peoples. We strive for a future that recognizes the knowledge, rights, and resilience of these peoples.

Fuerst Group, KEEN, and Chrome are equal opportunity employers. We value an inclusive and diverse community. Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.