Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization
This role is responsible for leading the pre-season & in-season Buying, Ranging & Merchandising processes whilst maximizing the profitability of the Retail and Franchise channels across SEA, through the implementation of key strategic initiatives across all SEA countries and ensuring all in-season activity is focused on delivering planned sales, margin, terminal stock objectives, and ensuring the effective execution of promotions, providing the best product offering for our consumers.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with the SEA Sr. Director DTC and EM Hub Merchandising team by leading SEA merchandising teams and engaging with BUs & CtC.
• Champion any merchandising related subjects and coordinate with EM Hub Merchandising team to deploy key strategies and ranges across SEA countries to drive efficiency & profitability.
• Monitor and deliver financial targets for the channels, including Net sales, Sell through, standard margin, and define required actions to achieve the KPI’s for SEA Cluster.
• Lead pre-season planning including Open-To-Buy (OTB) plan, pre-season product planning, option planning, forecasting (including handover to BUs, clusters & Demand Planning).
• Lead the deployment of ranges and assortment planning strategies for own retail & franchise stores in collaboration with CtC AP.
• Review Open-To-Buy (OTB) & seasonal buy plans and drive changes collaboratively to ensure the right level of stock based on commerciality and brand vision. 
• Review and implement enhancement of all merchandising processes, systems and tools.
• Work closely with the Business Solution Team to meet world class merchandising best practices.
• Work with SEA Sr. Director DTC and EM Merchandising in mapping the merchandising process and define appropriate merchandising solution for the market.
• Work with the SEA Sr. Director DTC and EM Merchandising to define the methodology of option and space management. Lead SEA countries through deployment of the same.
• Contribute to the development of key merchandising reports and be responsible for its implementation in SEA countries.
• Review in season stock cover and highlight concerns to the SEA market teams.
• Identify and maximize new & in season business opportunities by understanding and executing on respective channel potentials.
• Ensure implementation of standard markdown / promotion processes across SEA in order to support topline, bottom-line & inventory ageing targets.
• Evaluate the competencies of direct or indirect team on a regular basis and provide feedback and guidance to drive high performance culture and a winning mindset.
• Lead SEA countries promoting a ONE team mindset by working and collaborating together.
• Take ownership for Talent Management processes to grow, develop and retain talents

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent Direct & Indirect influencing skills
• Advanced skills in MS Office
• Strong trading mindset, with an entrepreneurial flair to maximize business opportunities.
• Fluent in English
• Additional language is an advantage
• Ability to present clearly to any audience
• Good understanding of Retail Management processes & systems
• Strong analytical skills
• Structured, organized and process orientated
• Ability to work effectively within a fast-paced team environment and under pressure

Education and Experience Qualification

• University degree in business, ideally with marketing and sales focus or equivalent professional experience
• More than 8 years of Merchandising Experience
• Leadership of Merchandising team / function