Job Description
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 Director of Sustainability & ESG Strategy is responsible for developing and driving the company’s enterprise wide sustainability and ESG strategy in a manner that enables growth, strengthens brands, and meets evolving consumer and stakeholder expectations.
This role serves as a strategic enabler—partnering with brand, product, sourcing, operations, finance, and legal teams to translate sustainability priorities into commercial opportunity, innovation, and long term enterprise value. While ESG reporting and regulatory compliance are critical responsibilities, they are executed in close partnership with the Legal and Finance teams and are not the sole focus of the role.
The Director balances strategic vision with execution discipline, ensuring the company’s sustainability agenda is credible, measurable, and growth oriented.
Primary Duties:
Enterprise Strategy & Value Creation
Develop and drive an enterprise‑wide sustainability and ESG strategy aligned with corporate objectives, brand strategies, and consumer expectations.
Identify and advance sustainability initiatives that support revenue growth, brand differentiation, innovation, and market relevance.
Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on sustainability‑related risks, opportunities, and emerging trends.
Brand & Business Partnership
Partner closely with brand and commercial teams to:
Identify sustainability opportunities aligned with brand positioning and consumer demand
Support product, materials, packaging, and sourcing initiatives that drive value and differentiation
Translate sustainability goals into actionable, brand‑relevant roadmaps
Act as a connector across brands to scale best practices and successful initiatives.
Governance, Targets & Performance
Establish sustainability and ESG goals, targets, and KPIs in collaboration with cross‑functional stakeholders.
Drive consistent methodologies for measurement, tracking, and performance management.
Embed sustainability considerations into enterprise planning, risk management, and decision‑making.
Reporting, Disclosure & Regulatory Partnership
Lead ESG reporting and disclosures for a public company environment, including sustainability reports and investor‑facing materials.
Partner with the Legal team on regulatory compliance and governance matters, including:
SEC‑related disclosures
CSRD or other international requirements, as applicable
Ensure ESG data and disclosures are accurate, consistent, defensible, and audit‑ready.
Support engagement with ESG rating agencies and external assessments.
Stakeholder Engagement & Communications
Collaborate with Investor Relations, Communications, and Legal to ensure consistent, credible ESG messaging.
Serve as a subject‑matter expert for internal and external ESG‑related inquiries.
Support proactive engagement with investors, customers, and other key stakeholders.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in sustainability, business, law, public policy, or related field preferred.
8–12+ years of experience in sustainability, ESG, corporate strategy, or related roles.
Experience in a public company and/or multi‑brand consumer business strongly preferred.
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute enterprise‑level strategies that balance growth, risk, and stakeholder expectations.
Working knowledge of ESG reporting frameworks and regulatory requirements.
Proven ability to influence cross‑functional teams and senior leaders without direct authority.
Commercially minded and growth‑oriented
Strategic thinker with strong execution capability
Comfortable operating at the intersection of brands, legal, finance, and operations
Pragmatic, credible, and data‑driven
Strong communicator with executive presence
Working Conditions:
Normal office environment. Some travel may be required.
Wolverine Worldwide has a flexible, hybrid work schedule, with three days in office and two days remote.
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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.