Vice President, Merchandising & Inventory

Vice President of Merchandising & Inventory

JOB PURPOSE: To deliver on the mission of Wilco as a member of the senior leadership team responsible for leading the merchandising and inventory functions

JOB SUMMARY: The VP of Merchandising and Inventory is responsible for leading the Merchant and Inventory teams with a focus on Product, Price, and Promotion. The VP will lead the cultivation of a product/assortment aligned with Wilco’s signature department strategies. Ultimately responsible for Margin Dollar creation, the VP will lead Wilco's assortment and pricing strategy. The VP will also be responsible for vendor management and broader sourcing programs. The VP is responsible for Inventory, including in-stock performance, annual turns, and achievement of GMROI targets.

Reports to: President and Chief Executive Officer

Supervises: Sr. Merchants, Merchants, Inventor Manager, and other team members

Responsibilities

• Evaluate sales trends within the company, for competitors, and with vendor data to continuously improve department, category, and item mix.
• Lead the development of merchandise plans for department stores and for eComm.
• Own the merchandise development plans - directly responsible for managing team execution and adherence to the critical deadlines.
• Ability to apply trend forecast and influence product strategies during the development process using both market information and brand filtering.
• Manage/collaborate on product development strategies for in-store and eComm products.
• Collaborate with marketing and sales teams for optimum training and promotion performance.
• Lead Merchants to develop effective vendor partnerships, participating directly in vendor strategies and meetings with key vendors.
• Deliver weekly business reports and forecasting that offer fact-based summaries of previous performance and profitability that will facilitate decision-making.
• Lead developing inventory strategies and plans. Track progress and initiate tactics to optimize.
• Manage and develop slow-moving product review and strategies, including the product discontinuation process and discounted pricing.
• Manage and develop the merchandising team; ensure performance, productivity, and development using relevant metrics.
• Oversee product category managers to develop annual sales, margin, and inventory plans.
• Develop and oversee competitor pricing strategies and trends, including response execution and elasticity review M.
• Evaluate and analyze the sales performance of all product categories.
• Develop organizational capacity through improved programs, policies, and systems.
• Implement excellent process discipline and technology systems to produce efficiency.
• Ensure plans align with company-wide goals and manage the reconciliation regularly.
• Other duties as requested by the President & CEO.
  
  
  

SPECIAL SKILLS/TRAINING

• Strong financial background.
• Effective business planning, project management, problem-solving, negotiation skills, and financial analysis.
• Excellent communication and strong collaboration skills at all levels of the organization.
• Extreme attention to detail.
• Proven leader who can influence and inspire team members.
• Must be sharp, deadline-focused, and highly motivated.
  
  
  

EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION

• 10 years of Retail Merchandising role of increasing scope, complexity, and leadership responsibility.
• 5 years in a leadership role of a 10 location, $100m sales retail company.
• Bachelor's degree in business or related field.
  
  
  

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Office environment with many hours sitting or at a desk. There is minimal, but some lifting is required to assist at events or when visiting locations less than 20lbs).
• Sitting, manual dexterity (writing, typing, and handling), and operation of automated equipment.
  
  
  

WORKING CONDITIONS

• The role includes regular meetings and an office home base in Mt. Angel, Oregon, along with the eligibility for hybrid remote work.
• Seeking a candidate located in the Portland-metro area.
• Typical on-site requirements are 1-2 days/week in the office.
• Overnight travel required 15%-25% of the month, visiting locations, attending conferences, and community events.
  
  
  

BENEFITS

• LTIP Eligible
• STIP Eligible
• Deferred Comp Eligible
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance
• Profit Sharing Program
• 401K Retirement Plan up to 6% Employer Match
• Advancement Opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program
• Long-term disability and Life/AD & D Insurance
• Generous Employee Discount
• Tuition Reimbursement
• On-Demand Pay
• Holidays and paid time off.
  
  
  

About Wilco

Dating back to the early 1930s, Wilco, a growing retailer, has stood the test of time by maintaining focus on our values and never losing our passion for customer service. Wilco is progressive and unlike the standard “farm store”. With a variety of departments, including Garden, Pet and Animal Supply, Hardware, Paint, Clothing, and Pet Grooming, partnered with personalized service, our customers consider Wilco a preferred retail destination. Wilco has been named a Top Workplace in Oregon and SW Washington by The Oregonian for 12 consecutive years. We are dedicated to our team and attribute this distinction to them.

Wilco is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We recognize and encourage the valuable and enriching contributions that people from all backgrounds and experiences bring to our organization. As a values-based cooperative, we believe all individuals should be treated based on merit without prejudice.