SVP GMM - West Elm

Job Description

West Elm is seeking a visionary and dynamic Senior Vice President of Merchandising (SVP, GMM) who will serve as a key member of our executive leadership team, reporting directly to the President.

This role will be responsible for the stewardship of our brand and the development of our product strategy. You will set long-term vision and lead a high-performing organization to build an ambitious growth strategy for West Elm.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Brand Vision: Champion the long-term strategic direction for the West Elm brand. You will translate this vision into comprehensive business plans, spearheading the brand's evolution and identifying new opportunities for transformative growth.
• Merchandising & Assortment Direction: Lead the entire merchandising lifecycle, from conceptualization to execution. You will leverage deep market insights and an elevated aesthetic to develop a compelling product assortment that resonates with our global customer base while maximizing profitability and brand integrity.
• Ownership of Financial Results: Assume accountability for the brand's financial performance, delivering on ambitious sales and margin targets. You will be responsible for defining and implementing strategic pricing, promotional, and liquidation strategies that optimize profitability.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence: Serve as a pivotal partner across the organization, forging strong collaborations with design, supply chain, creative services, and other key functions to align all efforts toward a unified strategy driving exceptional results.
• Talent Development & Mentorship: Build and cultivate a best-in-class merchandising organization. You will create a culture of high performance by providing clear direction, prioritizing strategic objectives, and developing talent to their fullest potential.
  
  
  

Personal Competencies

• Deep knowledge of the consumer market, competitive space, and trends in the home industry.
• Love of product; strong taste level – appreciation for the details that make a product commercial.
• Strong analytical skills; ability to derive actionable insights from data.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement growth strategies and identify white space opportunities. Growth minded.
• Strategic horsepower: sets an ambitious agenda grounded in a clear vision for the brand.
• Execution; demonstrated ability to operationalize growth strategies – laying out clear goals and timelines, and empowering teams to deliver.
• Strong communication skills; ability to bring teams, partners and leaders along for the journey; Listening skills matched to communication skills
• Leadership – demonstrated ability to identify and develop top talent and build high performing teams; Create an environment where people are encouraged to take risks and grow.
• Holds themselves and others to a high standard; motivated by the opportunity for continuous improvement. Thrives in a fast-paced environment, approaches challenges with agility and creativity.
• Models our culture – collaboration, entrepreneurship, and candor. Brings self-awareness and curiosity to working partnerships.
  
  
  

Our Culture & Values

We Believe That Taking Care Of Our People Is Vital To Our Success And We Strive To Offer Equitable And Transparent Practices For All. We Prioritize Connection, Growth, And Wellbeing. Our Associates Are Encouraged To Bring Their Authentic Selves To Work, So They Can Be Their Best And Achieve Their Personal And Professional Goals. We Make Inclusivity a Cornerstone Of Our Culture By Welcoming Associates With Diverse Cultures And Backgrounds And Celebrating Them, Together. We Nurture An Open, Inclusive Environment For All. Our Differences—whatever They May Be—are Valued, Explored, And Appreciated. Together, We’re Creating a More Just And Inclusive Company Culture Where The Only Criteria For Advancement Are

• The quality of our work
• The contributions we make to our teams and the business
• Our ability to lead and connect
  
  
  

We firmly believe that working in a culture focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) spurs innovation, creates healthy and high-performing teams, and delivers superior customer experiences. Outside of WSI, we recognize the importance of playing a part in our communities through partnerships, collaborations, and commitments to a more just and inclusive world.

About Us

Our Company

Founded in 1956, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty retailer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home in the United States. Our family of brands are Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, Rejuvenation, West Elm, Mark & Graham, Outward, and GreenRow. These brands are among the best known and most respected in the industry. We offer beautifully-designed, stylish and functional products for every area of the home, including the kitchen, living room, bedroom, home office, closet, laundry room and even outdoor spaces. We've seen some big changes since our first brick-and-mortar store opened more than half of a century ago. What hasn't changed is our passion for high-quality products, functional design, outstanding customer service, and enhancing the lives of our customers and the communities where we operate. Today, we're a multi-brand, multi-channel, global enterprise supported by state-of-the-art technology and some of the most talented teams in retailing - and we're always looking for new energy and ideas.