VP Merchandising & Brand Development

POSITION: VP, Merchandising and Brand Development PPD

DEPARTMENT:
Brand Strategy
- Salon Centric

REPORTS TO:

SVP, Merchandising and Brand Development PPD

LOCATION:

Clearwater, Fl (National Operating Center)

SUMMARY:

The VP, Merchandising, PPD Brands is a paramount executive leadership role, holding ultimate accountability for defining and executing the comprehensive merchandising and brand partnership strategy for over $900M in the portfolio of PPD brands. This role is responsible for driving the entire lifecycle management of these critical brands, encompassing go to market strategy, promotional planning, education and launch animations within the Salon Centric Ecosystem.

This Vice President will architect, champion, and implement innovative strategies that drive transformational growth and undisputed market leadership across their assigned PPD brand portfolio. A critical aspect of this role is to build, lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team of senior leaders, specifically including AVPs and Directors who are directly responsible for individual PPD brands, fostering their growth and ensuring their collective success.

Key performance indicators include exponential sales growth, profit maximization, significant market share expansion, sophisticated education and loyalty program integration, advanced inventory optimization, enterprise-wide promotional planning, and high-impact brand-building initiatives across all sales channels serving the professional beauty industry.

The ideal candidate will be an inspirational and highly influential executive with an unparalleled executive presence, capable of setting a strategic vision, inspiring and developing a high-performing team of senior leaders, and driving execution  VP will collaborate seamlessly with, and influence, cross-functional executive leadership, high-level business partners, including General Managers and Presidents of PPD brands, as well as demand planning, supply chain, marketing, learning and development, store replenishment, education, and finance in a highly matrixed organization.

This role acts as a critical strategic partner and thought leader for the entire Merchandising and Brand Strategy team. The VP will conceptualize, develop, and present comprehensive divisional brand and merchandising strategies to the highest levels of senior executive management and cross functional partners. A deep understanding of market dynamics, professional stylist insights and compelling brand storytelling specific to the PPD sector is essential to succeed in this dynamic environment, ultimately enhancing the shopping experience and fostering guest loyalty within the professional community.

This leader will be a definitive voice in high-stakes meetings, expertly navigating and influencing discussions where conflicting opinions are debated to achieve strategic consensus and drive enterprise-wide decisions for the PPD portfolio.

• Strategic PPD Brand Portfolio Management: Drive the strategic vision, development, and financial performance of the entire PPD brand portfolio within Salon Centric, leveraging market and trend analysis to lead brand launches, optimize product lifecycle, and execute high-impact promotional campaigns to achieve sales and profitability targets.
• Executive Leadership & Team Development: Recruit, mentor, and empower a high-performing executive team, fostering an inclusive and innovative environment while providing visionary leadership to achieve aggressive sales, market share, and customer acquisition goals for the PPD portfolio.
• Operational Excellence & Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to company policies and standards, conduct in-depth financial and operational reviews to drive enterprise-level improvements, champion technology adoption, and engage strategically with field leadership to ensure consistent brand representation and continuous improvement across all functions.

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Retail Management, Marketing, or a related field is required.

• 8 years of progressive executive-level experience in fast-paced retail management, merchandising, or strategic brand commercialization, with a strong focus on large-scale P&L management (over $500M), market growth, and influencing at the C-suite or equivalent level.
• Demonstrated executive-level financial acumen: Proven success in driving top-line sales, interpreting complex financial data, managing multi-million dollar budgets, and strategically controlling expenses to maximize profitability for a single, high-volume brand.