Head Of Merchandising (japan)

Head Of Merchandising (Japan)

At YETI, we believe that time spent outdoors matters more than ever and our gear can make that time extraordinary. When you work here, you'll have the opportunity to create exceptional, meaningful work and problem solve with innovative team members by your side. Together, you'll help our customers get the high-quality gear they need to make the most of their adventures. We are BUILT FOR THE WILD™.

As Head of Merchandising (Japan), you will be responsible for leading the development and execution of merchandising strategies to maximize sales and profitability. You will oversee a small team and collaborate cross-functionally to shape the product assortment, optimize inventory management and enhance customer experience. You will lead the go-to-market calendar and consider local nuances, resulting in customers connecting with YETI.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute merchandising strategies to deliver business objectives
• Define long-term merchandising strategy and category architecture
• Lead a team of senior managers and category leaders
• Drive innovation in product assortment, pricing, and customer experience
• Partner with executive leadership on company-wide initiatives
• Own P&L performance for assigned business units
• Own and drive the Go-to-market process and assortment strategy, ensuring visibility and understanding of all regional plans, in close collaboration with channel leads
• Manage a complex and fast-growing business that involves active portfolio management, including monitoring and responding to regional omni-channel sales, product and consumer feedback
• Be the regional voice for category needs and opportunities at key Global product milestone meetings.
• Lead the development of seasonal line plans, assortment strategies, pricing and promotional plans
• Review and execute on product assortments that reflect the Brand, community feedback and market trends
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to align merchandising strategies with overall business objectives.
• Provide insights and recommendations to inform product development and marketing initiatives that resonate with the region and local customers
• Lead assortment planning, SKU optimization and product lifecycle management initiatives in-line with global and regional strategy
• Oversee inventory planning and management processes to optimize stock levels, minimize excess inventory and maximize sell-through
• Develop inventory targets, replenishment strategies and allocation plans
• Lead visual merchandising initiatives to enhance presentation and visibility across retail and e-commerce/digital channels. Leverage visual merchandising guidelines and standards to ensure consistent brand messaging and story-telling
• Analyse sales performance, sell-through rates and KPIs to evaluate merchandising effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement
• Conduct sales forecasting and demand planning to support inventory management and business decisions
• Be the Go-to-market champion for seasonal/new product introductions, which includes engaging and organizing the region to help successfully launch new products
• Prepare weekly/monthly sell-through and category performance reports
• Own seasonal retrospective analysis to ensure learnings are factored into future buy strategy at channel/market level

Qualifications and Attributes:

• At least 12 years' experience in merchandising leadership roles, preferably across retail or FMCG industry
• Tertiary degree in Business, Marketing or related field
• Advanced skills in MS Excel
• Deep knowledge of the wholesale and retail landscapes across ANZ within outdoor/sports and fashion/lifestyle segments
• Innovative thinker who synthesizes consumer insights, macro trends and competitive analysis to make informed product decisions
• Ability to work at scale within a global, high-growth environment
• Experience with long-range planning, managing complex categories within an omni-channel environment
• Self-starter who works well in a fast-paced and high-performance environment
• Hands-on approach to get things done, flexible and positive attitude
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills
• Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills; building effective relationships across all levels of the organization
• A team-player, collaborating and building strong relationships to meet business objectives
• Ability to prioritize and execute with attention to detail

YETI is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture is at the center of everything we do for our employees. We embrace all applicants looking to bring their authentic selves to YETI and contribute to our mission of keeping the wild WILD. All applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual's race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws.