Lead Marketplace Merchant NA - Converse

RICA WHOLESALE - CONVERSE

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Lead Merchant position will lead the development of seasonal footwear assortments and multi-season product and marketplace strategies, built on consumer and business insights, business growth drivers, and the global product pipeline. Through sharp segmentation initiatives, franchise lifecycle management and choice count line planning, the lead merchant will build a product offering to serve our consumer where they shop, elevating the consumer experience while delivering incremental growth for the brand. As a collaborative teammate, you will be responsible for leading channel specific go-to-market milestones and partnering with business leaders and channel planning and marketing to build product level objectives.

This candidate should have a strong understanding of the footwear industry and the competitive landscape. They must also possess:

• Deep understanding of our consumer and market landscape, to develop a thoughtful and informed perspective of product and marketplace opportunities

• Strong product sense with proven experience in driving product assortments

• Strong problem solving, communication, interpersonal and organizational skills

• Results oriented: ability to analyze trends, sales data, inventory and sell through to inform real time and future product assortment strategies and actions

• Strategic thinking with the ability to innovate change through visionary thinking and strategic management

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON

In collaboration with the broader Geo Merchandising team and Wholesale Cross-Functional partners, you will support the creation of the in-season and long-term product strategy for Converse's North America Wholesale Marketplace.

You will be responsible for:

• Obsessing the needs of the consumer, advised by deep consumer and data insights, including your own observations out in the marketplace and time spent supporting the commercial team at key account meetings.

• Building and implementing the product and assortment strategy for the Wholesale Marketplace that supports the category's seasonal strategies and delivers growth

• Taking a pro-active approach to curating sell in tools and product storytelling to support key seasonal product initiatives

• Work closely with the Geo Brand Merchandising team in sighting and hind sighting marketplace opportunities to inform future product and business needs

• Partner with planning on product and marketplace level forecasting that aligns to product strategies, go-to-market plans and financial targets

• Being a strategic manager of seasonal close-to-market allocation and briefs, working closely with the Brand Merchandising and global CTM teams, as well as global strategic partner accounts.

• Using active listening skills, you will balance the need to seek information with the need to be understood and the ability to communicate effectively in multifaceted settings

• Building and sustaining positive relationships with key cross functional teams

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

Your key partners include:

• Geo and Global Merchandising

• Commercial

• Marketplace Planning

• Wholesale Brand Marketing

• Merchandising Operations

• Sales Operations

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelor's degree or higher or equivalent combination of education and experience and training

• 5+ years of relevant experience in Footwear/apparel Merchandising or Buying roles

• Vibe IQ and Flex system capabilities preferred

• Ability to travel up to 15-20% of the time on market travel and/or account facing meetings

• Understanding of retail key performance indicators and profit based metrics

• Strong strategy building skills that shape the future of the business

• Effective communicator that collaborates and brings people together

• Provides direction and mentorship to teammates

• Values differences and builds strong relationships with high cultural awareness

• Proven balance of art and science in decision-making

• Self-directed, independent, and dedicated

• Cultivates innovation while also ensuring accountability

• Communicates vision and purpose and able to lead effectively in complex situations

• Solves problems using limited information and implements solutions with the ability to foresee most future implications

• Advises others on complex matters requiring in-depth knowledge or conceptual thinking

• Responds with speed and agility, curiosity, and motivation

Converse is more than a company; it's a worldwide advocate for self-expression. This belief motivates our employees, permeates our working environment and inspires our products. No two of us look or think exactly alike. We are each one-of-a-kind. Individually and as a culture, we have the freedom to create and grow professionally. Generous benefits packages only sweeten the experience. From Boston to Shanghai, from Brand Design to Finance, Converse is a brand that celebrates the unique and creative people of the world. Together, we're different.

Benefits

Whether it's transportation or financial health, we continually invest in our employees to help them achieve greatness - inside and outside of work. All who work here should be able to realize their full potential.