Director, Assortment Planning App & Acc

OverviewWith the customer in the center of our vision and with the newly implemented "Lace up plan" strategic plan, the Director Assortment Planning plays a crucial role in facilitating the creation of a deeper, more relevant connection to our customers. With a team of Assortment Planners, the DAP's main objective is the development, delivery and on-going management of a profitable and productive clustered assortment with the goal of deepening our relationship with our consumer.The DAP ensures his/her team develops store assortments 6-12 months out and recommends SKU count by brand/franchise using productivity metrics and unites the buyer's merchandise vision with the divisional financial strategies supplied by the Financial Planner. The DAP is responsible for driving customer experience in store and increasing NPS, while maximizing sales, margin, and liquidation.In season, the DAP ensures their team reacts to changes in trend and sell-through performance by adjusting distribution plans to capitalize on emerging opportunities and/or to manage SKU count in store. The DAP fosters an effective working relationship with the Buying Directors, Marketing/VM team, CX and vendors to strengthen business and support company strategies. To be successful in this role, you will need commercial awareness, excellent analytical and communication skills, and foster strong partnership with stakeholders. You are part of the assortment planning leadership team.ResponsibilitiesTrain, motivate and develop your team to ensure effective performance and growth through consistent (on-the-job) training and feedback.Deliver service excellence while maintaining a high level of engagement and ensure a live well - work well environment.Develop the team to foster a strong collaboration with all key stakeholders.Embrace diversity, inclusion and belonging and create a safe space for your team.Guard the end-to-end assortment planning process from initial vendor/franchise forecasting to GTM.Lead quarterly teardown/kick off meetings with the Buying team.Foster a strong partnership with the brands on assortment build and GTM processes.Maintain and enhance best business practices across the merchandising group by partnering closely with all Assortment Planners, your Senior Director and seeking input from respective subject matter experts.Support a test and learn environment by making initiatives manageable and recognizing scalability fast.Ensure the development of a pre-season assortment plan to support the merchandise strategy.Maximize margin through assortment productivity.Connect Financials and Space through Vendor investment bottom-up planning.Partner with Allocation, Buying and GTM/VM to ensure alignment on door and distribution.Build future assortment and space plans together with the buying team by visiting vendor partners and traveling the market.Collaborate with Space Planning team to refine proposed space updates.Develop SKU count and inventory strategies in season (SKU life cycle management).Create and maintain Vendor/Franchise Space matrixes by store cluster, create visibility to the business and vendors on vendor space productivity.Ensure franchise sales and inventory forecasting quarterly (Big programs).Support the buying team on product line level planning and forecasting in line with space assortment plan and OTB being given by Financial Planner.Align store assortment plans with store financial target setting (sale plan).Manage responsive and seasonal business through line cards.Ensure the monthly SKU count flow fits within space capacity (intake management).Review product distribution plans prior to intake, adapting to trend shifts and new opportunities factoring in Associate Assortment Planner GEO's input (in-season Trade).QualificationsUniversity or College degree in Business Administration, Economics, Supply Chain or equivalent education and experience.Identify and understand the various business needs and propose solutions/strategic changes.Be aware of and introduce innovative approaches/best practices to the business.Understand all areas of the business and their requirements and challenges.Review current processes to identify potential improvements and implement them together with the responsible area.Minimum 10 years' experience in a trend driven, high-volume company.Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.Problem solving and decision-making abilities.Advanced Excel skills are a must, experience using planning tools (Marketmax, Arthur, SAP etc.) is preferable.Project management skills.Understanding of the European consumer and regional differences.Business mathematical skills required.Ability to work under pressure and with own initiative.Sound business/commercial awareness, high concern for effectiveness, entrepreneurial.Enthusiastic, goal-oriented team player with a desire to join the biggest in the business.Superior communication skills and ability to influence across all levels of a complex, culturally diverse matrix organization: natural ability to engage others into buying into a vision or a solution, while keeping an open mind to others' opinions.Proactive communication, convey healthy confidence, energy and inspires trust.Understand and is passionate about sneaker culture.

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