Merchant

Position Purpose:

Responsible for executing the overall short and long term strategy for assigned category/ categories. This includes, creating and maintaining vendor relationships, marketing products, developing product line strategies and reporting financial results. The Merchant makes all or most of the buying decisions for the assigned category and negotiates terms with suppliers to drive item selection and pricing.

Key Responsibilities:

• 20% - Assortment Selection - Executes the business review of category/ categories on a regular basis; determining changes to product mix to better optimize assortment and drive innovation.
• 30% - Financial Planning & Management - Implements the financial strategy/cost structure for a category and sets pricing.
• 20% - Merchandising Execution - Develops merchandising strategy to understand key business drivers (e.g. historical performance, industry/competitive landscape, consumer segmentation) May serve as a key contributor on various key projects.
• 30% - Supplier Relationship Management - Influences the supplier management strategy to support overall department strategy and works to improve all aspect of supplier relationship. May serve as a key contributor on various other key projects.
   

Direct Manager/Direct Reports:

• This Position typically reports to the Merchandising Vice President or Divisional Merchandise Manager.
• This Position has 1 Direct Reports

Travel Requirements:

• Typically requires overnight travel less than 5% of the time.
   

Physical Requirements:

• Most of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position and there is frequent opportunity to move about. On rare occasions, there may be a need to move or lift light articles.
   

Working Conditions:

• Located in a comfortable indoor area. Any unpleasant conditions would be infrequent and not objectionable.
   

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Must be legally permitted to work in the United States
• Experience with managing regional and national suppliers.
• Ability to manage sales typically in excess of $500M.
• Experience managing a business (financial, operational, process, people, technology, etc).
   

Preferred Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
• Working knowledge of presentation software (e.g., Microsoft PowerPoint)
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and work effectively with cross-functional teams
• Ability to draw accurate conclusions from financial documentation
• Demonstrated project management skills
• Ability to negotiate, handle complaints, settle disputes, and resolve grievances with both internal and external customers
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Bachelor's degree, preferably in business or related field of study
• Proven experience in merchandising execution, visual presentation, new concepts, inventory management, channel management, and supplier management.
• Proven ability to manage large scale projects in a complex environment
• Proven proficiency in both a brick and mortar and online retail environment
• Experience managing several hundred vendor contracts simultaneously
• Comprehensive understanding of relevant products to make purchasing decisions
   

Minimum Education:

• The knowledge, skills and abilities typically acquired through the completion of a bachelor's degree program or equivalent degree in a field of study related to the job.
   

Minimum Years of Work Experience:

• 8
   

Preferred Years of Work Experience:

• 9

Competencies:

• Action Oriented
• Courage
• Decision Quality
• Persuades
• Collaborates
• Cultivates Innovation
• Manages Complexity
• Communicates Effectively
• Customer Focus
• Drives Results
• Financial Acumen