Manager, Merchandising Strategy & Insights

JOB DUTIES

• Oversee efforts to identify sales, cost, and profit opportunities across divisions, brands, and classifications through rigorous analysis and research, including: assessment of SKU/Brand/Promotional incrementality, competitive benchmarking (space, brands, SKUs), market insights, customer insights (e.g. surveys, customer analytics), brand partner insight (cost structures, motivations), and extensive SKU/brand/class-level analysis (relative productivity, profitability, brand loyalty, transferability, etc.)
• Oversee development of analytical materials to be shared internally during category and brand partner presentation reviews and assortment discussions with the Merchandising, Planning, and Marketing teams
• Manage cross-functional relationships across various organizations such as Merchandising, Marketing, and Analytics teams to ensure alignment when creating executive level presentations
• Oversee the development of brand partner discussion materials to be shared during negotiations
• Enhance and enforce documentation, archiving, and audit processes for agreements with brand partners
• Oversee tracking of profitability improvements to ensure that all necessary follow up actions are completed and that financial results are realized
• Support development of annual plans and budgets for brand partner and customer strategy & profit improvement, working with the Merchandising, Planning, and Marketing leadership teams
• Work on special projects, ad hoc analysis, and initiatives related to assortment performance/optimization and cost reduction/management

 JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Excellence in building, developing, managing, and leading a team
• Outstanding analytical, storytelling, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to present to senior management with poise and credibility
• Ability to communicate effectively and succinctly, both verbally and in writing via email and Microsoft PowerPoint
• Ability to conduct complex quantitative analysis and build analytical models using Microsoft Excel
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple assignments and meet tight deadlines
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with Merchandising, Planning, and Marketing SVPs, VPs, and Directors
• Ability to work independently and adapt to changing work priorities
• An open and honest, collaborative communication style that quickly builds trust and respect
• The candidate selected for this position will be a creative, out-of-the-box thinker who is intellectually curious with a demonstrated interest in learning. This person will also need to be a self-motivated, entrepreneurial, high-energy individual who can easily function in a high demand, performance-driven environment.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• Merchandising expertise - strong understanding of retail merchandising basics (i.e. category management) and merchandising organizational structures and processes
• Mastery of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Four-year college degree or equivalent experience; MBA preferred; Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and/or other quantitative analytical degree a plus
• 5+ years of relevant experience part of experience must be in either management consulting or retail. Specific experience in fashion/luxury retailing and/or high-end department stores a strong plus.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each job duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or ability required.