Senior Director - Divisional Merchandising Manager

Overview

The Senior Director - Divisional Merchandising Manager (DMM) will work with the VP General Merchandise Manager to create an annual financial Plan for their area of responsibility. This will include an overall number for sales, product margin dollars, and inventory turns. Once this Plan is created, the DMM is then charged with meeting or exceeding the Plan in their area.

A DMM must be a leader; a leader who has a strategy and vision, and can communicate these to their team along with delegating and prioritizing the tactics and responsibilities necessary to achieve success. The DMM’s biggest measurements of success are meeting or exceeding the Plan for sales, product margin dollars, and inventory turns.

A successful DMM at WSS will enjoy the freedom and creativity to “run their own business” within the larger business and thrive on this opportunity to improve their skill set (along with their team’s) and to be a part of a larger team effort to grow the business. A DMM must understand that they are a critical member of the team, but that the team’s success is more important than their individual success.

The DMM will have a team of buying staff that reports directly to them that may include some or all of the following:
Senior Buyers, Buyers, and Associate Buyers. Reporting to the buying staff will be a support staff comprised of Assistant Buyers, and Merchandise Coordinators. The DMM is responsible for managing, mentoring, and growing their staff’s quality, consistent with the business needs and the individual’s career growth plans.

The DMM will be paired with the Director of Planning and the Allocation Manager who will function with the DMM as a team to achieve the financial Plan.

We currently have two DMMs that report the VP GMM. Each DMM manages approximately half of the business. One DMM manages a portfolio mix of Men’s Footwear, Women’s Footwear, accessories and the second DMM manages Kids Footwear, apparel, and accessories. The portfolio may shift and change based on business needs.

WSS is the premier footwear retailer in the U.S. doing business in neighborhood-based stores. Consumers trust WSS for the best brands, greatest values and largest selection of athletic, dress, fashion, and casual footwear for the entire family. Our large store format enables us to showcase thousands of styles from top brands like Nike, Jordan, Vans, Converse, Adidas, Puma, Skechers, etc. In addition, WSS carries high quality private brands augmenting the breadth of selection to deliver amazing value to our customers.

Founded in Southern California in 1984 by entrepreneur Eric Alon, all WSS stores feature a unique retail format that displays every style and size. This allows customers to browse on their terms, in a hassle-free environment, engaging the friendly and knowledgeable sales staff when they choose. The success of this business model has allowed WSS to continue its rapid expansion into new markets.

WSS currently operates stores throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas.

WSS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment.

• Maximize the growth and profitability of their assigned area(s).
• Be strategic in their thinking, and tactical in their attack.
• Enhance and maintain excellent vendor relationships.
• Have strong assortment planning skills.
• Have strong in-season management skills including reorder skills, markdown strategy, inventory consolidation and redistribution strategy, PO push/cancel/modification skills, etc.
• Excellent Planning skills and understanding of key concepts.
• Excellent Allocation skills and understanding of key concepts.
• Strong skills in working with the Marketing, Store Operations and Visual Merchandising teams to communicate their vision and assortment plans to the customer, which results in the business meeting and achieving the financial Plans.
• Maintain Positive Relationships – Internal and external (vendors, warehouse, Planning & Allocation, Store Operations, Finance, and Marketing departments).
• Communicate in a professional manner and respond with timely and accurate information.

To perform this job…