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Director, Strategy - Plus Segment
Ascena Retail Group
Columbus, OH, United States
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Brand Overview:
ascena retail group, inc. is a leading national specialty retailer offering apparel, shoes, and accessories for women under the Premium Fashion segment (Ann Taylor, LOFT, and Lou & Grey), Value Fashion segment (maurices and dressbarn), Plus Fashion segment (Lane Bryant and Catherines), and for tween girls under the Kids Fashion segment (Justice). ascena retail group, inc. operates ecommerce websites and approximately 4,800 stores throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Ready to apply? We currently have an opportunity for a Director, Strategy - Plus Segment to join our team
Position Overview:
The Plus Segment Strategy function is a critical part of defining our path forward. Through rigorous analyses, focus on our customers, creative thinking, and deep partnership with the business, we develop the strategic direction for our company. We are responsible for the definition and evolution of our overall corporate strategy, for identifying organic and inorganic growth opportunities where we can create structural advantage, and for driving product- and customer-centric initiatives across our stores and digital channels.
The Plus Segment Strategy team reports to the SVP, Strategy, MP&A and Merch Operations and provides strategic support to our Brand President and Leadership Team.
The Director of Strategy will work collaboratively across all brands and key functions (including marketing, merchandising, planning & allocation, finance, stores, technology, and procurement) to drive strategic initiatives. This person will help lead our long-term strategy development and management, drive key strategic initiatives / tests / analytics, and deliver deep insights on key business opportunities. This is a highly visible role within the corporate function and brands. This position will have 1 direct report and will be responsible for leading numerous cross-functional teams.
Combine creative and strategic thinking, a command of analytical methods and communication, strong interpersonal skills, and a sophisticated understanding of business to:
• Be a thought partner to the Leadership Team – formulate and facilitate brand strategies across all functions and ensure strategies are aligned to the strategic priorities and objectives
• Lead strategic initiatives within the business, forming cross-functional teams that quickly and effectively pursue high value opportunities. Ensure projects operate effectively and deliver key insights to test and learn different growth concepts quickly
• Know how to build collaborative relationships and to foster trust by involving others in idea generation, plans and decision-making
• Evaluate new business opportunities by modeling performance reflecting plausible scenarios or illustrating the limits of tolerable risks. These business opportunities could include new business models, initiatives, investments or deals within existing business models.
• Drive and continuously improve the strategic planning process for the organization, establishing and maintaining high quality output, as well as efficient processes and systems
• Drive creation and facilitation of content related to corporate strategy, used in presentations to the Board of Directors and investors, in collaboration with all members of the leadership team as needed. Ensure leadership team is set up for success going into these discussions (e.g., guide speaker notes prep, own process etc.)
• As a trusted advisor to the leaders of the organization, work closely with team members on a variety of projects. These projects are likely to be analytical in nature and will be tactical components of the overall strategic plan.
• Source ideas for growth for the brands across functions and channels through active engagement with broader retail community through conferences, talks, and broader engagement. Identify, develop and support initiatives that advance enterprise strategic objectives to enhance the customer experience, achieve process improvements, enter new markets, and grow the business.
• Maintain a broad and deep understanding of industry dynamics, including competitors, disruptions and trends and synthesize thinking for the Leadership Team
• Bring outsider and cross-functional critical thinking and problem-solving to Strategic Initiatives
• Lead and mentor junior team and cross-functional partners to ensure the stability and reliability of the data sources and processes they draw on, the accuracy of reports, analytical soundness, and timely delivery of work product. Help prioritize work based on strategic importance, maintenance and ongoing improvement of financial and business performance metrics, and team members' individual development against current responsibilities and career objectives.
• Identify external and internal opportunities for Best Practice sharing, and learning for the leadership team across brands and through experts
Requirements:
• 8 – 10 years of relevant experience (i.e. in management/strategic consulting, corporate development, etc.) and a demonstrated record of accomplishment. Top tier management consulting firm experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in business management or related field. MBA from top business school preferred.
• Strong leadership skills and knows how to build collaborative relationship and to foster trust by insight, credibility and executive presence.
• Experience leading a team including coaching and mentoring.
• Self-starter with ability to work both independently and with cross-functional teams.
• Quick learner and has experience handling multiple challenging priorities and driving different types of projects to timely completion.
• Highly experienced at structuring ambiguous problems, leading analytical work streams, applying sound business discernment.
• Communication and presentation skills to effectively deliver complex, data-driven insights to senior business leaders.
• Strong strategic and creative thinking.
• Understanding of consumer-facing and retail businesses.
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Position Type:
Regular/Full time
Equal Employment Opportunity
The Company is committed to hiring and developing the most qualified people at all levels. It is our policy in all personnel actions to ensure that all associates and potential associates are evaluated on the basis of qualifications and ability without regard to sex (including pregnancy), race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability that can reasonably be accommodated without undue hardship, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected classification under federal, state, or local law. We do not discriminate in any of our employment policies and practices. All associates are expected to follow these principles in all relationships with other associates, applicants, or others with whom we do business.