Merchandising Manager

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* Essential Functions:

** Position requires a minimum of 60% time in the field of the assigned business unit.

Supports pilots/testing activities, including preparation and delivering communication materials. Also tracking of results and feedback to the appropriate team.

Provide the local point of view to Hub leadership based on marketplace understanding.  Be an advocate for the customer across the category, engaging Ops to support.

Supports marketing; POP are executed across BU.Locally lead the execution of national schematics efforts with local assortment.

Coordinate with and manage reset teams in all aspects.

Own product launches locally.

Support local partners and technical teams to troubleshoot customer facing issues.

Foster positive relationships between the Hub team, Spoke team and Operational team.

Coaches and mentors Operational staff to merchandise product assortments that reflect Hub initiatives, buying trends and support seasonal local customer demand. Supporting the operations team regarding best merchandising practices for the category at site level.

Other tasks as assigned that are site merchandising related.

Collaborate and support Country and HUB activities for the Category.

Collaborates with Hub for product forecasts and distributions. Monitors local competitor retail and makes recommendations appropriately.

Foster positive relationships between the Hub team, Spoke team and Operational team.

Oversees the local level of store layouts, category space allocation, product affinity/adjacencies based on recommendations by the Hub.

Recommends changes in products, service and policy to the HUB for evaluating results and competitive developments.

For local business unit programming only Selects vendors, negotiates costs and terms for products and develops schematics by applying category management principles in accordance with the HUB strategic objectives.

Increases sales revenues by developing promotional concepts and overlay programs; develops category plans.

Establishes and monitors gross margins by forecasting and developing annual sales quotas, projecting expected sales volume and profit for existing and new products and determining placement and promotions.

Projects and measures category sales and gross profit results by developing and maintaining records of item cost, retail, and gross margin dollars. Maintains local external vendor relations by providing direction, guidance, and information, resolving concerns. Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reading professional publications, establishing personal networks; or participating in professional societies. Contributes to team effort by accomplishing determined Financial and Key Result Area targets pursuant to Company Plan guidelines.
** Qualifications
* * Bachelor’s degree in advertising, business, or related field preferred.  Other combinations of job-related experience and education that meet the requirements may be substituted. Five years of experience or more preferred in merchandising; including three years of management responsibility.  Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word/Excel/PowerPoint) required.  May require up to 60% travel. Valid Driver’s License supported by a clean driving record.
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* Physical Requirements:

** The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  Complete physical activity inventory of the position includes:
* Sit for long periods of time.
* Operate computer keyboard and mouse for data entry.
* View computer monitor
* Hear and speak via…