Director of Sales and Merchandising

Director of Sales and Merchandising

My client is a successful supplier of girls, juniors and missy sportswear and dresses, both branded and private label, to major retailers for over 40 years. They are located in San Francisco.

They are looking to hire a Director of Sales & Merchandising for girls with experience to mid tier retailers like JC Penney and Kohl's and/or mass merchants like Target and Wal-Mart.

The Director of Sales and Merchandising will participate in customer meetings in tandem with the Account Executives as a corporate representative.

This position will be responsible for the overall execution of sales and merchandising activities with key retailers. They will be the company's eyes and ears in the marketplace to drive product content and aesthetics in collaboration with the creative team while working directly with Account Executives in Regional Offices to support and maximize their sales.

That means experience must include prior sales management, responsibility for pricing, margins and markdowns and creative collaboration specific to girls (7-16), tween and/or juniors apparel with some experience recent to the mid tier or mass retail level.

This position reports to the President of the Girls Division and must be located at their SF headquarters.

Responsibilities

1)   Build strong relationships and maintain close communication with a team of New York based Account Executives. Be responsible for achieving divisions financial targets and able to solve problems and be the first line of defense
2)   Develop relationships with key retail management in order to provide support to the Account Executives
3)   Maintain knowledge of industry trends and competition and work as a leader to develop and launch new programs and enforce timelines to gain market share
4)   Input and collaboration with creative team on optimal merchandising to improve sales
5)   Responsibility for pricing and meeting financial objectives
6)   Plan and implement sales activities to achieve sales goals while maintaining overall plan objectives including maintaining profit
7)   Communicate daily with senior management any potential problems or issues as they arise. Recognize critical situations and communicate them appropriately
8)   Drive sales through existing distribution model with strategic initiatives based on customer needs, trends and opportunities and look for opportunities to expand channels of distribution

Qualifications

1)   At least 10 years experience specific to apparel primarily in wholesale sales, sales and merchandising management with girls, tween or juniors apparel experience
2)   Ability to manage account executives and retailers independently
3)   Experience and relationships specific to mid tier or mass retailers
4)   Advanced retail math skills
5)   Prior responsibility for pricing, margins and markdowns
6)   Ability to influence design and merchandising initiatives for improved sales
7)   Prior experience managing and maintaining sales infrastructure
8)   Self starter with strong organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to communicate clearly