DIRECTOR Merchandising & Brand Development - SalonCentric

POSITION: Director, Merchandising and Brand Development

DEPARTMENT: Brand Strategy

REPORTS TO: AVP or VP, Merchandising and Brand Development

LOCATION: National Operating Center, Clearwater, FL

SUMMARY The Director, Merchandising and Brand Development is a strategic leadership role steering the vision and execution of brand partnerships and product portfolios within the professional beauty market. This role manages the end-to-end lifecycle of an assigned category or Brand within PPD. This role encompasses strategic go to market planning and the cultivation of strong market positioning for their Brand.

The ideal candidate is a visionary leader with executive presence who is able to navigate complex coordination within a matrixed environment. This role requires seamless collaboration with cross-functional executive teams—including Supply Chain, Marketing, and Finance—to execute a comprehensive merchandising strategy across stores, commercial sales, and E-Commerce.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Merchandising & Brand Development

• Category Leadership: Champion a multi-year strategic vision for assigned brands. Collaborate with top-tier and emerging partners to curate a market-leading assortment that positions the company as an industry leader.
• Launch & Market Strategy: Drive high-impact brand launches. Lead in-depth analysis of global trends and translate insights into actionable sales strategies.
• Financial Performance: Achieve ambitious sales, profit, and inventory turnover goals through meticulous forecasting and data-driven promotional planning.
• Lifecycle Management: Formulate strategic exit strategies for underperforming items to optimize portfolio health and resource allocation.
  
  

Leadership & People Management

• Lead strategy across all SalonCentric functional departments, orchestrating all initiatives to achieve flawless execution.
• Operational Leadership: Model a culture of accountability and excellence, establishing clear priorities to meet channel goals related to sales, inventory, and productivity.
  
  

Operational Excellence

• Policy & Financial Oversight: Ensure strict adherence to company standards regarding inventory control and loss prevention. Conduct deep-dive financial reviews to strategically react to business trends.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive the adoption of cutting-edge technology and process innovations to enhance departmental efficiency.
• Strategic Engagement: Conduct regular field visits and store audits to ensure consistent brand representation and gather market insights.
  
  

Job Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field required; MBA highly preferred.
  
  

Experience

• 8-10 years of progressive leadership in retail management, merchandising, or brand development.
• Financial Acumen: Proven success in large-scale P&L management, budget oversight, and driving top-line sales growth.
• People Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead large teams through organizational change and influence executive-level stakeholders.
• Negotiation: Extensive experience leading high-stakes contract negotiations with major partners.
• Industry Knowledge: Experience in beauty, cosmetics, or professional salon industries is highly desirable.
  
  

Skills & Competencies

• Executive Presence: Ability to inspire confidence and influence senior leaders across a matrixed organization.
• Strategic Thinking: Superior ability to analyze complex data and formulate bold decisions that drive market leadership.
• Communication: Exceptional presentation skills with the ability to articulate complex narratives to large audiences and executive boards.
• Problem Solving: Advanced capability to address ambiguous challenges with data-driven, innovative solutions.
• Technological Proficiency: Advanced skills in ERP systems, CRM, and analytics tools (Microsoft Office Suite).