Manager, Merch Product Strategy

Position

Purpose:

The Manager, Merchandising Product Strategy owns the Merchandising product portfolio intake and planning cadence, sets and tracks OKRs, and leads business case development and value pool analysis for prospective initiatives. This role also owns end-to-end delivery for select process improvement initiatives outside of formal Product Management scope and uses adoption and performance data to inform portfolio and initiative decisions. The Manager also provides leadership and development to a team of Senior Analysts.

• Scopes projects, including: determines project management requirements; develops project charters and risk assessments; develops high-level project plans; develops estimates of business benefits.
• Develops project management plans, including: defines project goals and objectives; identifies resource requirements; develops project schedules, develops project budgets.
• Manages process improvement projects and business portion of system implementation projects, including: schedules project resources; conducts project team status meetings; identifies and leads resolution of project issues; monitors project status vs. plan; performs project status reviews, ensures quality of all project deliverables.
• Identifies current and future business process improvement opportunities.
• Provides management leadership and development/coaching guidance to Business Analysts.

• Director, Merchandise Process Management
• Accountable for direct supervision of the work activities of others. Planning, monitoring and reviewing work of subordinates is required. This may include direct supervision of a shift or the coordination of multiple work groups. Makes recommendations concerning selection, termination, performance appraisal and professional development.

• Typically requires overnight travel less than 10% of the time.

• 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.

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

• Must be eighteen years of age or older.
• Must be legally permitted to work in the United States.

• Experience in Merchandising, e-commerce, or product organizations
• Familiarity with OKR frameworks for product organizations
• Experience partnering with Product Management on business-case hand-off
• Experience managing cross-functional teams to improve business processes and implement new systems
• Prior experience at a management consulting firm or in internal audit
• Ability to pull data and construct credible, data-driven business cases
• Familiarity with Merchandising processes (planning, assortment optimization, execution, price/markdown optimization)

• 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.

• No additional education

• 5

• No additional years of experience

• None

• None

• None

• Proven leadership skills. Willing and able to create and manage associate development plans.
• Experience and expertise using quantitative analysis methods and tools.
• Proven ability to manage in a project team environment; experience managing multiple projects, deadlines and priorities to meet commitments.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills. Able to communicate effectively to all levels of associates - including Sr. Management.
• Proven management experience with business process evaluation, procedural definition and/or application systems design/development