Sr. Manager, Merchant

The Sr. Merchandise Manager is responsible for overseeing curating commercial, global, trend right assortments to drive the merchandise strategy for given departments that meets or exceeds the financial goals for that respective area. The Sr. Merchandise Manager develops and leads a highly performing team. Delivering consistent results for key KPIs, such as sales and gross margin. This position collaborates closely with the Director of Merchandising, as well as cross-functional partners. The Sr. Merchandise Manager keeps the customer at the center through evolving knowledge of the market, customer behavior, trends and product influence.

Main Responsibilities:

• Adopt a strategic standpoint to effectively manage a team throughout the buy cycle and trading of departmental assortments.
• Develop robust seasonal merchandise assortment strategies, roadmap and considered investments for multiple departments within Global Merchandising that ties to financial plans and seasonal goals.
• Partner with design and PD to develop assortments that support category objectives
• Have consideration for key assortment aspect variables and KPI’s.
• Work with planning counterpart to align on high level investment roll up vs plans and sales forecasts
• Trade the business weekly, guiding the team to analyse product performance and KPIs to make tactical business decisions. Encourage the team to take ownership of levers (MD, promotions, chasing opportunity, mitigating risk) to drive the business partnering with leads to action accordingly.
• Manage product tracking for departments to ensure on time delivery. Analyze sales risk and elevate to upper management.
• Develop and maintain strong cross-functional relationships with Design, Product Development, Marketing, Planning, ISP and other merchandising partners to collaborate on seasonal buying process. Refine and establish processes collaboratively for the benefits of the teams.
• Partner closely with ISP team to determine appropriate in-store product placements that align with overall product and promotional strategy
• Expert in global competition for assigned department, understanding other retailers’ assortments, pricing and promotional strategies in comparison to Claire’s. Drives strategic initiatives to optimize white space opportunities. 
• Full understanding of the Claire’s consumer – including shopping behaviors, trend appetite, product influence
• Develop a collaborative team create and facilitate an effective work environment by coaching, developing and mentoring team, developing a common vision, setting clear objectives, modelling teamwork and maintaining open communication

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising, business, or related field
• 7+ years’ merchandising or retail buying experience 
• Strong leadership skills: demonstrate the ability to coach and develop a high performing team
• Work autonomously
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic, collaborative environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and solution oriented decision-making
• Strong organizational, planning, presentation, and written and verbal communication skills
• Sense of urgency with demonstrated success in a fast-paced and deadline-oriented environment
• Proactive, use initiative to navigate roadblocks
• Flexibility and the ability to prioritize multiple deliverables
• Thrive in business environments with developing structures
• Self-motivated with critical attention to detail, deadlines and reporting
• Consumer led: understanding of current trends and how they apply to the Claire’s/Icing customer
• Innovative & open minded individual
• Team player
• Strong communicator
• Excellent retail math skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint and Excel)

Compensation Range: $95,680.00 - $128,960.00

Claire’s is committed to adhering to all applicable company policies and federal, state, and local laws and regulations. All positions will be compensated at or above the legally mandated minimum wage for the location in which work is performed. The final compensation will be determined by various factors such as relevant work experience, education, certifications, skills, and geographic location.

Benefits for full-time employees included medical, dental, and vision insurance, voluntary welfare plans, bonus plan eligibility, 401(k) match, vacation time, sick time* and paid leave.

Benefits for part-time employees included voluntary welfare plans, 401(k) match, vacation time, sick time* and paid leave in required states.

*Sick Time: For the State of Washington, all employees will accrue paid sick time at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked.

Claire's is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and we encourage applications from members of all underrepresented groups, including those with disabilities. We will accommodate applicants' needs, upon request, throughout all stages of the recruitment process. Please inform us of the accommodation(s) that you may require.

Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially. To request accommodation, please email Benefits@claires.com. Only messages sent for this purpose will be considered.