Sr. Director, Product Development

Job Summary

The Senior Director, Product Development provides global leadership for KEEN’s footwear product development organization and is accountable for translating product strategy, design intent, consumer needs, and commercial objectives into innovative, manufacturable, profitable footwear. This role leads the global footwear development function from product concept through commercialization, establishing the development standards, technical capabilities, operating disciplines, talent structure, and factory partnerships required to deliver the global product portfolio.

The Senior Director serves as the senior technical and commercialization leader within Global Product & Innovation, partnering closely with Product Management, Design, Color & Materials, Fit & Wear, Innovation, Merchandising, Product Operations, Sourcing, Costing, Engineering, Quality, and owned and partner factories. The role is accountable for protecting product integrity while improving speed, margin, quality, fit, manufacturability, and execution across the portfolio.

The Senior Director builds and develops a high-performing footwear development organization capable of supporting KEEN’s current business while creating the technical capabilities required for future growth.

The Senior Director, Product Development provides global leadership for KEEN’s footwear product development organization and is accountable for translating product strategy, design intent, consumer needs, and commercial objectives into innovative, manufacturable, profitable footwear. This role leads the global footwear development function from product concept through commercialization, establishing the development standards, technical capabilities, operating disciplines, talent structure, and factory partnerships required to deliver the global product portfolio.

The Senior Director serves as the senior technical and commercialization leader within Global Product & Innovation, partnering closely with Product Management, Design, Color & Materials, Fit & Wear, Innovation, Merchandising, Product Operations, Sourcing, Costing, Engineering, Quality, and owned and partner factories. The role is accountable for protecting product integrity while improving speed, margin, quality, fit, manufacturability, and execution across the portfolio.

The Senior Director builds and develops a high-performing footwear development organization capable of supporting KEEN’s current business while creating the technical capabilities required for future growth.

• Leads the global footwear product development function, establishing functional direction, organizational capabilities, operating standards, talent priorities, and development plans in support of KEEN’s long-term product and business strategy.
• Translates Global Product & Innovation strategy into development priorities and capabilities that deliver differentiated, consumer-relevant, technically excellent, and commercially viable product.
• Establishes clear accountability, role clarity, and effective deployment of development expertise across product categories, strategic initiatives, and innovation priorities.
• Builds organizational capability and succession depth through leadership development, coaching, performance management, talent development, and organizational planning.

• Leads development excellence from concept through commercialization, ensuring product achieves design intent, consumer benefit, fit, performance, quality, cost, sustainability, manufacturability, and delivery objectives.
• Establishes and governs development standards, technical requirements, and critical milestones necessary for…