Director, Merchandising

Summary

Join Brilliant Earth as their Director of Merchandising, where you will lead and manage critical Merchandising and Planning functions. You will drive assortment, planning, pricing, and promotional strategies to meet sales, gross margin, and inventory targets. This role requires a passion for product and data-driven decision-making, and you will partner with various teams across the organization. As a market expert, you will develop innovative merchandising strategies and lead pricing optimization initiatives. You will also manage merchandise reporting and analysis, inventory management, and the forecasting process. The ideal candidate is an accomplished merchandising professional with experience in a digital, high-growth environment and a proven ability to lead and develop teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree; MBA is a plus
• 10+ years of experience in a merchandising, buying, or category management capacity working for an innovative retailer or ecommerce company
• Working knowledge of demand forecasting, retail merchandise planning, inventory management best practices and inventory systems
• Experience working in a fast-paced, dynamic, high-growth environment requiring new process creation, process improvement, task prioritization, and strategic project management to lead team in implementing key initiatives while supporting business scaling
• Analytical and data-driven with proven track record of driving business results and meeting KPIs
• Strategic mindset and structured problem-solver
• Attracts and develops talent, motivates team members, and manages performance effectively
• Honed ability to develop effective working relationships with cross functional partners and influence and drive results cross functionally in a way that enriches the company's culture and overall team performance
• Strong command of digital/e-commerce merchandising metrics and KPIs
• Commitment to respect and inclusion in the workplace
• Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation and problem-solving skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel

Responsibilities

• Lead Brilliant Earth’s Merchandising and Planning functions, ensuring the right people, processes, and tools are in place to support business growth, profitability, and data driven decision making
• Manage all aspects of the Merchandising function including product assortment, product launch strategy, pricing and promotional strategy/execution, reporting and analysis, etc
• Partner with Product Development/Design team to ensure Brilliant Earth offers a compelling assortment of products that meets market trends and customer needs while optimizing assortment opportunities
• Oversee the development, management, and execution of financial plans across categories and channels. Drive the financial success of each category by developing assortment plans and investment strategies that meet sales, gross margin and inventory productivity goals
• Oversee the reporting and analysis of financial performance by category, sub-category, SKU attribute, and channel to identify opportunities and risks, and lead team to implement actions to address
• Oversee price optimization initiatives, including recurring price reviews, price testing and markdowns. Support in implementing new tools and models to make data-driven decisions around pricing
• Partner with Marketing and Digital teams to maximize product performance by supporting successful new launches and ensuring that products are represented in optimal manner on website and other marketing channels in order to optimize sell-through
• Hire, train and mentor direct reports to develop appropriate skills and support their career aspirations
• Create and foster a collaborative, innovative, and results-oriented team culture

Preferred Qualifications

Keen eye for product and trend; experience with premium brands and/or jewelry a plus