AddressPosition Purpose
The Manager Assortment Planning will lead a team of Sr. Assortment Planners and Assortment Planners who provide subject matter expertise, project management, and analytical support to assortment decisions made by the Merchandising organization. This position is responsible for executing Product Line Reviews & Refreshes for designated merchandising departments, and should be seen by merchants as a thought leader on category and assortment strategy. The Manager will work closely with Merchandising Directors to develop and execute a calendar of category reviews, and should be an advocate for implementing assortment planning best practices across the portfolio of categories. Additionally, the Manager Assortment Planning is responsible for proactively identifying opportunities for Assortment Planning capability development (tools, analytics, process).
Responsibilities:
- Lead team in structuring and executing Business Reviews and Product Line Reviews.
- Work with the Merchants and Merchandising Directors in selecting the most impactful Product Line Reviews to address category objectives.
- Coach Analysts on designing analysis that positively influences category strategy
- Develop and maintain assortment planning best practices for business reviews, clustering, localization, forecasting and project management
- Oversee development of executive-level presentations that assess market conditions, historical category performance, strategic rationale underpinning assortment changes, and expected financial outcomes.
- Accountable for team's accuracy, thought process, timeliness, advocacy of category management best practices, and viability of recommendations.
- Accountable for PLR metrics including sales, units, GM and forecast accuracy
- Identify, develop, and refine processes to enhance category management within Merchandising, including leadership roles in strategic, cross-functional projects.
- Liaise with the Assortment Planning Team from the US on best practices as well as to ensure consistency of practice.
- Accountable for the management of the team for all personnel issues - including coaching, development, selection, termination, performance appraisal.
- Position reports to the Director of Assortment Planning and Space Management
Experience / Knowledge Required:
- Internal Candidates: Must fulfill minimum time-in-position (1 year) and performance management code requirements (M+, Meets expectation, Consistently demonstrates).
- Undergraduate degree required, preferably in business or finance
- Strong experience in category management and/or assortment planning including financial analysis
- Excellent analytical skills including the ability to build analytical financial models.
- Strong ability to influence without authority, and demonstrated success at partnering with cross-functional teams across a complex organization
- Strong presentation and communication skills including written and verbal
- Demonstrated ability to structure nebulous projects, and to work constructively under tight deadlines
- Experience managing multiple direct reports
- Demonstrated proficiency at managing and prioritizing across multiple projects
- Strong project management skills
- 7-8 years of relevant experience
