This job has expired, please see additional jobs below
Senior Director, Merchandising
Puma
Westford, MA, United States
Job Details - this job has expired, please see similar jobs below
Westford, United States
YOUR MISSION:
Merchandising Strategy
• Partner with Sales Management to set a clear direction for the Footwear Merchandising team that aligns with regional strategies and financial targets.
• Create momentum across Wholesale, while constantly seeking new opportunities to drive growth and brand heat
• Develop and execute an overall product strategy that maximizes profits, provides a consistent consumer experience and demonstrates highest quality of product offering possible
• Conceive and create new thoughts and ideas pertaining to maximizing revenue and resources, presenting products and reaching the consumer
Product Range Planning and Management
• Own overall retail-focused seasonal Footwear line architecture, assortment plans and lifecycle plans, ensuring that the line plan is built to support key category growth initiatives and Key Account strategies
• Manage Channel Merchandisers to ensure execution of seasonal assortment construction in a way that maximizes profitability for the brand and the customers, including relevant and feasible flow and pricing
• Partner with Global Business Units/Product Line Management to ensure the creation of product that meets Channel needs/targeted line architecture and pricing requirements
• Drive presentation of seasonal architecture to global product teams along with insights and commercial input that align to brand positioning and vision.
• Ensure identification of opportunities to supplement the seasonal product assortment via the North American Regional Creation Center. Own the overall process of briefing margin appropriate products and/or special programs based on specific market needs that incorporate customer insights, consumer trends, competitive activities, market intelligence and the North American distribution strategy.
• Oversee all information related to products including but not limited to price points, forecasts, introduction/launch dates and distribution plans
• Responsible for pre-season sample management
Analysis and Insight
• Review ongoing sell-through analysis for the overall category and key accounts to assess trends and needs while ensuring fast decision making
• Deliver channel/marketplace insights to all relevant stakeholders (Wholesale, Retail, Global Business Units, Global Merchandising, Marketing and Finance) to ensure that product needs are met and proper go-to-market activities can be executed
• Travel the market to gain insight on current trends, consumer behaviors and channel opportunities
Planning and Forecasting
• Approve and own on/off-cycle product forecasting for the Footwear category
• Own seasonal and annual Footwear Merchandising plans that align with overall financial and sales budgets
• Ensure SKU efficiency and sample expenditures meet regional guidelines and parameters
Account Partnership
• Serve as Footwear product expert of the region, internally and externally
• Deliver impactful presentations that influence financial performance
• Drive seasonal pre-line process for Footwear across all channels to collect customer insight, brief additional needs and adjust seasonal assortment plans as needed
Management
• Manage and train direct reports to properly manage dedicated channel
• Develop, empower and grow direct reports to own and become an expert on their business, take risks, have fact-based conversations and take on increasing levels of responsibility
Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Service as primary point of contact for senior level global counterparts regarding Footwear product and strategy for Wholesale
• Collaborate with Sales counterparts to identify needs as related to assortment plans and product flow to maximize wins for the PUMA brand and the customer
• Communicate consistently with Apparel Merchandising counterparts on the Footwear direction and align on key brand concepts by ensuring cohesive collections and deliveries
• Educate the Sales force on seasonal merchandising strategies and product
• Work closely with Planning and Operations counterparts to share information regarding financial targets, functional milestones and account planning, forecasting and performance
• Collaborate with Marketing to align on seasonal stories and go-to-market plans
• Work cross-functionally to ensure that the go-to-market process runs smoothly. Duties include but are not limited to:
• Participation and/or Merchandising leadership in account meetings and presentations
• Drive account meeting product set up and break down
• Seasonal sales meeting/launch participation, presentation and set up
• Own the development of necessary sales and account meeting presentation materials
• Trade show participation, presentation and set up
• Quickly execute agreed upon post-meeting action items including product briefs and forecasting execution
YOUR TALENT:
• Strong business orientation, analytical aptitude and retail math knowledge
• Strong collaboration skills required to work cross-functionally with sales, finance, product marketing and design teams
• Comprehensive business knowledge of the US marketplace and consumer goods practices including: distribution channels, pricing, segmentation strategy, regional variances, product sourcing, planning, forecasting, design, development and sales
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment with short timelines and changing priorities
• Flexible, solution-oriented, a skilled communicator and a relationship builder
• Fully proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
• Ability to travel 30-40%, domestically and internationally
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
• Bachelor�s Degree in Marketing, Business, Retail Merchandising or a related field
• 10+ years of experience in Merchandising or Product Management in either Wholesale or Retail organization
• Experience in a Retail buying or planning environment required
• Proven success improving margins and growing market share in either Footwear or Apparel
• Proven track record of successfully developing, managing line plan process and hitting associated KPI�s