EVP Merchandising - Multi-channel Computend Electronics

EVP Merchandising - Multi-channel Computend Electronics

SUMMARY OF POSITION: 

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Executive Vice President of Merchandising is responsible for the leadership, P&L and strategic direction of the Merchandising function for all channels within the North America. He/she will develop, analyze and drive the product and merchandising strategy to maximize sales growth and operating profit for the business in accordance with company goals. In this ‘hands-on’ role, accountabilities will be 80% merchant and 20% strategic, with individual bringing their strength in both hard and soft lines to the role. This position is responsible for managing and developing Merchandising team.

Participating as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, this individual will develop merchandising strategies to insure customer loyalty, increase number of shopping visits, drive store sales growth, and enhance company’s brand. This role will encompass collaborating with marketing and store operations partners to achieve fully integrated position, enhancing vendor relations, as well as approving merchandising and assortment plans, open-to-buy, and category VP and SVP forecasts.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Be immediately viewed as a hands-on, visible leader that encourages individual empowerment and employee development;
• Improve all aspects of Merchandising that include assortment planning, vendor selection, private label, inventory management and identifying and executing opportunities.
• Drive sustained high performance in B2B, retail stores and e-commerce
• Lead continuous improvement of the company standing in the consumer electronics ecosystem by creating new markets
• Re-engineer the merchandising systems and processes, including portfolio, assortment and pricing optimization, promotional planning and vendor go-to-market strategy
• Develop a high performing team by improving their leadership acumen
• Work closely with the capabilities and channels; B2B, Stores, E-Commerce, Finance, IT, Logistics, Human Resources and Legal to ensure that the product approach to the business is fully integrated
• Provide inspirational leadership to a cross-functional team, building and enhancing their technical and analytical skill sets and improve overall processes and disciplines.
• Drive Business acumen and make economic projections on product lines and financial metrics around Gross margins, GMROI, space allocation and sales, and contribution of product categories.
• Instill a culture of excellence, integrity and accountability across the business and its holdings—from the business leaders to rank and file employees. Reinforce a high-integrity, no-nonsense delivery and customer-centric mindset in the business;
• Create a strategic capability and long-term plan for the merchandising team

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum 15+ years in an executive merchandising role is required with prior general merchandise retail store background, with mass merchant, discount, off-price, and/or variety store chains. Experience must reflect handling of consumables, seasonal, electronics, furniture, appliance, housewares, home goods, apparel, and domestics. Individual must be had significant P&L responsibility, with demonstrated record of achieving consistent increases in comparable store sales, margin, and inventory turn. Appropriate backgrounds would include those who began their career in a department store and moved into discount general merchandise, or # 2 merchant looking to move into the #1 merchandising role 

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field required; experience in lieu of education is acceptable.