Global Merchandising Manager, Partnerships

**About this team**:
The Merchandising team creates and executes transformative global product strategies that ensure we have the right assortment in the right place at the right time to fulfill our guests’ unmet needs to deepen our guest relationships, grow our brand and deliver on our long-term enterprise goals. We possess deep awareness and intuition of global marketplace dynamics and guest needs and use this knowledge to identify opportunities to maximize guest demand.

**A day in the life**:
The Global Merch Manager is a seasoned product and market strategist who is accountable for the global seasonal merchandise strategies and roadmap for the season. The Global Merch Manager also drives the creation, management and execution of the global product assortment by effectively leading their teams in collaborations and partnerships with the Product, Brand/Marketing and Guest Experience teams.

This person is responsible for the development of the members of their global merchandising team to deliver product needs that reflect brand consistency and regional relevance to maximize profitability and sales across product classes, key items and channels.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Responsible for overseeing a team of Global Merchants who report directly to the Manager. The Manager inspires, coaches and guides their team members to develop their skills and deliver on business priorities. The Manager supports employee development plans and performance management.
- Accountable for defining class strategies based on short range product strategy (2-3 years) and creating global seasonal merchandise strategies and roadmap for the season
- In partnership with Brand and Creative partners, create Global Product strategies
- Responsible for briefing raw materials
- Accountable for leading their team in building the architecture of the assortment in collaboration with Design and Product Development team
- Responsible for creating and delivering global merchandising strategies to their Regional teams
- Accountable for leading their team to create content for showback to CPO (include strategy, directional investment level)
- Responsible for presenting direction for the season
- roadmap, story-telling/campaigns, direction of product flow and colour to Regional Buyers and key cross-functional partners, for their business category

Enroll and align on class strategies with Design (carryover, seasonal newness, franchise management and slot investments e.g. we want to lift ABC franchise this season)
- Build strategic vision for franchises and product lifecycle
- Sign off on sketches and protos against long term category strategy
- Leads the team to gain in depth consumer and competitive insights
- Accountable for colour flow for global assortment to ensure clear consistent profitable storytelling
- Ensure seasonal KPIs/targets are met

**Qualifications**:

- BA, BSc, BBA, BComm, (or equivalent), specialization in Retail Management an asset
- Minimum 8 years of experience, combination of people management and Merchandising experience
- Proven ability to coach, mentor and lead a team
- Understanding and experience in working for a Global Brand is required
- Experience working with third parties and partnerships (Olympic committees a plus)
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Programs
- Mastery in Excel, proficiency in Merchandising Software, preferred experience in Adobe Illustrator
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret multiple data points across numerous channels and market segments
- Financial acumen and understanding of Retail Math
- Ability to balance analytical and creative tasks
- Acute eye for product and colour trends
- Aware of macro lifestyle and fashion trends and how this relates to the active and wellness industry
- Strong understanding of global market place, major shifts in trend and activity
- Ability to apply, interpret and synthesize marketplace data to create global assortment
- Ability to enroll and clearly communicate vision, class strategy and feedback to key partners
- Ability to lead and influence creative partners
- Strong communication skills both written and verbal, and demonstrative ability to present to Senior Leadership
- Ability to multi task, pivot, prioritize competing tasks and operate in a fast paced environment
- Highly organized with a keen eye for the detail
- Ability to work independently to make sound business decisions