Associate Merchant

**Job ID**: 206263
**Location Name**: ON-FSC Toronto Off (0581)
**Address**: 5560 Explorer Drive, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON L4W 5M3, Canada (CA)

**Job Type**: Full Time
**Position Type (Regular/Temporary)**: Regular
**Job Function**: Merchandising
**Is This Position Eligible for Remote?**:
**ABOUT THE MERCHANDISING TEAM**:
We partner with luxury brands who create the products our clients crave, sometimes even before they know it. Merchandising at Sephora is all about defining what beauty means for Canadians today... and tomorrow. Our team of trendsetters and brand builders constantly creates original brands, develops new product categories, and starts trends. Some of next season’s most in-demand items may not even exist yet, but you’ll see them here first Supporting our in-store offerings is a strong online presence. There, our Digital Dot.CA Merchandising team ensures that, however our clients connect with Sephora, they always find the newest and most exciting products.

**WHAT YOU'LL DO**:
As the Associate Merchant, you will be responsible for achieving the financial and strategic goals of the assigned portfolio of brands - sales, gross margin, weeks of supply, and stock turnover. You will develop and implement the department objectives, brand strategies, client needs, and visual presentation within the category. You will execute merchandising and brand strategy, establish, and maintain excellent relationships with vendors, negotiate and manage assortments and seasonal products, manage compliance with the government standards, and maintain consistency with the company strategy. Key responsibilities include:

- Develop and execute the overall strategy for growth with new product introductions and strategic expansion of current brands
- Develop, manage and nurture brand relationships across multiple brands and vendors
- Develop and manage assortments, plan promotions, launches, animations for brands within the portfolio, and negotiate training support, co-op funding, RTVs, and sampling
- Analyze and manage all elements of a category to identify areas of opportunity
- Source and develop new brands that fill an important need gap within the category
- Interpret and communicate management direction to direct report within the business unit to ensure that each initiative is developed within the desired timeline
- Manage fixture/planogram planning and implementation with internal partners
- Collaborates with internal partners on promotions, launches, animations, and other marketing activities
- Communicate brand training needs to brands and education team
- Manage brand fill rate and P.O. fulfillment with the inventory management team
- Commit to the development of direct report through active listening, observing & coaching
- Foster a work environment that embodies the Sephora values
- Ensure accurate assortments are posted on Stores Intranet and communicate with the stores when needed to fully support them
- Follow-up of Health Canada regulations and product registration process to aid in the management of new product registration to determine compliance

**WHAT YOU'LL BRING**:

- You have a minimum of 4 years’ experience in buying/merchandising or planning
- You love product (beauty is your jam), understand consumer trends and behaviour, and inspire fearlessness in everything that you do
- You have a Bachelor’s degree or college diploma in retail management or a related field
- You're curious, a go-getter, take ownership and responsibility for your work
- You love tackling problems and using your analytical skills to find solutions.
- You have an entrepreneurial spirit, thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, and relish in working collaboratively with cross-functional groups.
- You've mastered the art of negotiation
- You're technically savvy and have experience using merchant systems
- You understand the Canadian marketplace and corresponding vendor organization

**WHY YOU'LL LOVE WORKING HERE**:

- You’ll be part of a unique culture and family of passionate and inspiring individuals.
- You’ll work alongside the best talent in the industry - people you’ll be proud to work with.
- You’ll have access to the global community of luxury group LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) for endless career opportunities.
- You’ll have the opportunity to be part of a community that drives meaningful social and environmental change and receive matching donations to support your charitable giving.
- Benefits you can mix and match, depending on your needs.
- Employee Assistance Program services for those times you need extra support.
- Holidays, time off, summer hours and flexibility to support work-life balance.
- And of course, there’s our incredible swag - free product gifts throughout the year and tons of discounts with our brand partners.

This position requires that the employee be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to commencing employment and that they agree to obtain any future required