Head of Strategy & Business Development

About Athleta

For the past 22 years, we've committed ourselves and our brand to a single aim: to empower all women and girls. Inspiration. Collaboration. Connection. Inclusivity. It's what we do best, and we're on the hunt for people who share our passion for leading an active lifestyle, growing personally as well as professionally, and creating game-changing products and experiences.

We use business as a force for good by putting people and the planet right up there with profit, which is why Athleta is a certified B Corp. Ready to make a move? Join us. Because we know that alone we're strong, but together we're unstoppable.

About the role

This exciting and important role will report into the Athleta CEO and sit on the Athleta Leadership Team. This leader will be responsible for developing the strategic direction and brand vision that will enable Athleta get to $5B and beyond. This VP will lead our transformative growth agenda, including, but not limited to, international expansion, store growth, VIP partnerships, and experiences that solidify Athleta as a leader in the digital space.

As a key thought partner to the CEO and Leadership Team, this role brings together end to end strategies across teams and functions and drives big brand vision work. This role will help to formulate all aspects of our brand strategy from market & competitor research, planning and initiative management. This leader manages members of the strategy team as they support and work with leaders across Athleta. This leader also works collaboratively with Gap Inc. strategy teams to ensure that brand and functional strategies ladder and are executed.

What you'll do

• This leader will be directly responsible for the brand team of strategists while maintaining deep partnership with the community of strategists throughout the company that reside in the brands and functions.
• The VP will work to influence leaders focusing on the priorities for investments and partnerships for the corporation.
• This leader will occupy a highly visible leadership position in the corporation and represent the strategic agenda of our senior-most leaders.
• Responsible for building long-term, compelling brand vision that defines our path to $5B and beyond
• Develops long-range business strategy for the brand
• Holds an important and influential role on the Athleta Leadership Team
• Articulates clear and compelling storylines that drive action
• Creates strong trusted partnerships with cross brand functional leaders to initiate and execute efficient work flow
• Weaves enterprise agenda into divisional priorities and plans; Structures and monitors the work of multiple groups and projects
• Partners closely with Finance to drive the right strategic decisions and investments, including the annual planning process and works in partnership and as a trusted thought leader with the brand and function leaders to inform and influence business strategies (e.g., pricing, brand architecture, infrastructure, channels, new markets)
• Develops and leads transformation efforts; Identifies and vets new business opportunities for Athleta and architects alliances/investments/acquisitions
• Leads a team
  

Who you are

• 12+ years of strategy consulting and corporate strategy experience with deep knowledge of apparel, retail, customer and digital (or commiserate experience in consulting, corporate finance and investment banking)
• Experience playing a leadership role for companies with strong brand and customer focus; understands the retail landscape and has strong digital experience
• Bachelor's degree required; MBA preferred
• Demonstrated success in advancing and growing businesses globally
• Exceptional problem solving and analytical skills; ability to frame new, ambiguous and complex issues; able to generate insight through rigorous analysis
• Turnaround and transformation efforts, including business model innovation, operating systems development, large scale cost improvements, and organizational restructures and effectiveness
• Experience identifying brand partnerships; including market research, prospect identification, due diligence, negotiation and post-merger/acquisition integration; Experience with progressive and innovative consumer insights efforts
• Strong leadership abilities, including the ability to develop talent and build a high performing team; Strong influence skills and ability to work successfully with peers; a true team player
• Ability to work effectively with senior executives, including Brand President and Board of Directors; Strong communications and presentation skills; Desire and ability to work in a matrixed organization

Notice to applicants in San Francisco: Gap Inc. and its related brands will consider for employment, qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. The Fair Chance Ordinance is provided here: English Spanish Chinese Tagalog

Benefits at Athleta

• Merchandise discount for our brands: 50% off regular-priced merchandise at Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta, and 30% off at Outlet for all employees.
• One of the most competitive Paid Time Off plans in the industry.*
• Employees can take up to five "on the clock" hours each month to volunteer at a charity of their choice.*
• Extensive 401(k) plan with company matching for contributions up to four percent of an employee's base pay.*
• Employee stock purchase plan.*
• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance.*
• See more of the benefits we offer.

*For eligible employees

Gap Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We are committed to recruiting, hiring, training and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds, and make all employment decisions without regard to any protected status. We have received numerous awards for our long-held commitment to equality and will continue to foster a diverse and inclusive environment of belonging. This year, we've been named as one of the Best Places to Work by the Humans Rights Campaign for the fourteenth consecutive year and have been included in the 2019 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the second year in a row.