Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

This role is responsible for maximizing the profitability of Own retail Factory outlets across Emerging market by building and leading teams through the implementation of key strategic initiatives, like GFO & Planned Production, across all countries of operation and ensuring all in-season activities are focused upon delivering planned sales, margin and terminal stock objectives, as well as the effective execution of promotions.  

Key Responsibilities: 

• Define and drive the implementation of key strategic priorities in line with the business expectation & merchandising framework
• Plan & Manage the creation of the seasonal GFO/Planned production to be offered to EM countries reflecting the commercial needs of the channel in coordination with the product strategy team
• Implement and drive the value store segmentation as foundational to plan accurate OTB & seasonal buys to achieve net sales, margins and inventory goals
• Build and maintain an inventory model with monthly views of stock and sales intake providing insights to countries on potential stock and product gaps
• Monitor financial targets for the channel including Net sales, Sell-through, Std. margin, Inventory, IDL & drive required actions to achieve the KPI’s.
• Ensure implementation of standard markdown / promotion processes across EM to support topline, bottom-line & inventory ageing targets.
• Drive merchandising excellence in all aspects of in-season trading (Replen – Stock Consolidation – store transfers – layouts – capacity maximization etc.)
• Be the SPOC for any subject Values stores related facing the Global FO team, HUB and cluster teams to deploy key strategies EM clusters to drive efficiency & profitability.
• Setup FO merchandising framework & lead its implementation across EM.
• Develop and evolve key merchandising analytics and be responsible for its implementation in markets.
• Review weekly sales and stock and define gap plans in collaboration with markets to maximize sales and achieve business goals.
• Monitor and drive the execution of effective flow of stock from regular DTC channels to Value channels (including FTS) to assure product relevance in regular stores, adequate stock clearance and margin optimization.
• Sharing of best practice from retail Value into franchise and within franchise across the markets.
• Action & lead relevant projects based on the business needs to achieve business goals.
• Role model the leadership framework and ONE EM mindset.

Key Relationships: 

• Global Merchandising Value team
• EM countries merchandising and operation teams
• EM Omni channel teams
• EM & cluster SCM
• EM & cluster Finance
• EM Demand planning
• EM Hub BU, CTC & DTC merchandising team.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong financial acumen and familiarity with retail math and KPIs
• Excellent direct & indirect influencing skills
• Strong communication skills and ability to present complex topics in a simplified and clear way to any audience
• Previous proven experience of managing Off price business is favorable
• Strong trading mindset, with an entrepreneurial flair to maximize business opportunities.
• Fluent in English.
• Excellent attention to detail and analysis skills.
• Advanced MS office skills (Advanced Excel skills is a must)
• Understanding of retail management system and back office system
• Structured, process oriented at the same time approachable and strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work within a diverse team, fast-paced environment and under pressure.

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• University degree in business, ideally with marketing and sales focus or equivalent professional experience
• Merchandising Experience: 6 - 8 years