Sr. Merchant- Global Omnichannel

Job description

A mutually rewarding experience.

Work. Realize your ambitions. And realize there’s more to being in business than just making a profit. That’s the Mars philosophy. And the opportunity we offer every one of our Associates. An opportunity to take what you do and make it mean more for you, for those around you and for the planet. What you get here is challenging, interesting work. You get the tools you need to do a great job and you get to have the best possible people on your side to help you do it. And at the same time as getting to find ways to do business better today than we did it yesterday and driving a great career, you also get to build a more enlightened business and drive sustainability.

Because it’s never just about a single person, a single project or a single brand. It’s about how you can grab everything that’s within your reach here and use it to pursue mutual, long-term gain. It’s about having ideas. And ideals. Being prepared to risk failure because the promise of success means we’ll all be a little better off. It’s that mix of integrity and ambition that makes Mars such a special place to work. And why working here is always about more than just a job.

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With almost $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN’S®, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA®. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD® Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl®, VCA® and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.

Mars is Currently Seeking a Senior Merchant – Global Omnichannel

Located in Mt. Arlington, NJ

Position Overview
This position is responsible for ideation, creation and management of M&M’s global General Merchandise assortment for all channels in all regions, including current and future regions, M&M Stores, Online US, EU, and US B2B/Licensing.

With the merchandise strategic guideline from Sr. Merchant manager & with solid external partnership & internal cross functional relationship, business analysis, market/consumer trend, internal marketing/brand guideline understanding this position will be responsible for creation of the assortment strategy and line plan for the general merchandise product portfolio with the overall goal of achieving target NSV, prime margin, and inventory/SKU productivity.

In addition, the Sr. Merchant will partner with the M&M Retail internal marketing and visual team to ensure seasonally relevant moments are supported through product offer and instore activations in all markets and channels.

With the full ownership & hands-on product management during the agreed stages of the product lifecycle through the RS&OP process, from initial product concept to shelf, this role will deliver the above by owning the product line through line plan build to finalization followed by ownership of design review, sample approval, go to market review etc. This position will also be accountable for the final delivery of the product across channels with support from the assistant merchant. In summary the Sr. merchant will own the final proposition of every product (finished goods) within in the portfolio he/she is responsible for.

Key Responsibilities
• Developing general merchandise assortment Strategy by department and class aligned with Merchandise Vision and Strategy across all channels in all regions that M&M Retail operates
• Responsible for participation in all pre-season and in-season RS&OP activities as per the RACI
• Responsible for building & finalizing line plan based on assortment Strategy for full Finished Good & obtain final sign-off from all relevant stakeholders within the timing and framework of Pre-Season RS&OP
• Partner with CMI, Merchandise Planning, channel leaders on NSV pre-season and in-season forecast for all channels & create product assortment based on that.
• Strong partnership with Vendors, CMI, channel leaders, marketing, and sales to build the line Plan followed by the accountability of executing it through item cost negotiation & finalization for new items.
• Partnering with strategic sourcing manager & supplier quality assurance for developing new vendors if needed.
• Partner with global responsible marketing, brand team, IP, legal to ensure the brand, trademark & intellectual properties are protected.
• Final co-sign off (with Sr. Merchant manager) on sample for production or in case of ambiguity.
• Partner with other P&I sub-functions like Q&PS to ensure desired Quality & testing of the finished goods on time and on budget.
• Work effectively with assistant merchant & accountable for the seamless communications across channel operations team to ensure smooth execution of the products.
• Partner with Visual merchandising, Marketing, Planning to support product activation.
• Responsible for In-Season business analysis are recommendations to ensure portfolio achieves NSV & Margin goals in all channels in all regions
• Participate in OTB meetings. Pre-meet with planners to ensure accuracy of receipts, provide input on sales and gross margin projections versus current trend. Recommend new course of action for up-trending or down-trending areas.
• Provide recommendations for markdowns to planning, based on OTB strategy.
• Support to manage Merchant and Assistant merchant’s work load and functional development.
• Responsible for co-managing (with the merchant) the tooling budget in partnership with S&F.
• Promote and lead Cross-Functional Collaboration.

Qualifications
Minimum
• Associates Degree
• Excellent communication skills both oral and written and ability to work with a cross functional team and a multi-cultural supplier base.
• Comfortable presenting to both a small and large group with an ability to influence and inspire.
• Keen understanding of the product merchandising, development, and creation process.
• Solid understanding of product development costs.
• Experience managing consumer products using characters, brands, and other intellectual properties.
• Product System Management, PLM/ODS/SAP integration. Word, Excel, and Power Point experience.

Preferred
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in fashion merchandising, product management, or related field
• 5+ years within the global consumer goods and/or Omni channel retail environment with expertise in the following disciplines: product management, merchandising, product creation, planning, and retail for comparable sized product and NSV portfolio
• Good understanding of the global consumer and marketplace is preferred
• Experience monitoring and understanding trends and applying that understanding to product briefs is preferred.
• Ability to create and maintain analytical management tools for business tracking, product briefing, development, merchandising, SKU performance, gross margin optimization and varied product / channel / customer analysis.
• Product System Management, PLM/ODS/SAP integration. Word, Excel, and Power Point experience.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.

Nearest Major Market: New Jersey
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