Manager Divisional Merchandise

Overview

As our Manager Divisional Merchandise, you will be responsible for driving sales, margins, and contributing growth across categories that are high volume and/or high growth. You will develop and execute merchandising strategies that align with company direction. You will manage the development of merchandise assortments that meet customer needs and financial objectives of the company across catalog, internet, and other identified sales channels.

You will also mentor and develop direct reports and foster cross‑functional collaboration across product development, sourcing, quality assurance, merchandise planning, inventory, marketing, e‑commerce, and creative.

• Manage customer solution(s) ensuring performance to planned financial objectives
• Oversee development of balanced assortment plans accounting for customer needs, market position/trends, historical performance and business goals
• Lead global sourcing efforts with focus on diversifying country of origin.
• Manage product life cycles, establish pricing strategies and manage product price points to maximize sales, sell‑through and profitability
• Ensure cross‑solution interaction to mitigate product duplication, improve product performance and productivity
• Develop merchandising plans by solution, category and product across catalog, internet and other identified channels to drive sales and meet contribution margin targets
• Communicates financial objectives, solution strategies, and assortment plans with cross‑functional partners including Marketing, E‑Commerce, Product Development, Sourcing, Quality Assurance, Merchandise Planning, Inventory and Creative
• Partners with cross‑functional teams to achieve financial objectives including sales, gross‑margin, contribution, fill rates, inventory turn and sell‑through and SKU productivity
• Supervise train and coach a team of 3 – 5 merchants, associate merchants and assistant merchants
• Ensure engagement goals are met
• Ensure calendar deadlines are met
• Leverage company direction to develop long‑term strategies in conjunction with cross‑functional partners to achieve company objectives
• Collaborate with Product Design to identify relevant trends and concepts
• Develop new product and update existing products that align with performance, trends and concepts
• Partner with Sourcing, Quality Assurance and Inventory to meet cost, quality and delivery objectives
• Work with Merchandise Planning to develop financial plans, demand forecasts and in‑season forecasts
• Partner with Marketing and E‑Commerce to develop pre‑season contact strategy, budgets and promotions across channels and touchpoints
• Collaborate with Creative to ensure presentation meets the needs of the business and aligns with brand strategy
• Know and leverage market trends, strengths and opportunities within area of responsibility through keen assessment and analysis of competitive set
• Oversees and participates in market travel, domestically and internationally
• Must maintain an active US Passport
• Maintains regular and predictable attendance
• Abides by all policies and procedures of Oriental Trading Company
• Must be able to attend face to face meetings on short or little advance notice
• Work requires in‑person collaboration among colleagues and contractors

• Performs other duties and projects as assigned
• Participates in process and procedural changes which will improve operations of the department

• Possess a proven track record of merchandising business management, success and growth
• Ability to recognize and research trends, competitors, and market conditions
• Ability to analyze quantitative data
• Proficient in communicating, presenting, negotiating and influencing appropriately to all levels of the organization
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally to trade shows and vendor visits
• Ability to collaborate with cross‑functional teams and communicate appropriately to all levels of the organization
• Ability to lead, manage, and develop team members toward personal, departmental and organizational goals
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude, set priorities and remain flexible…