JOB MISSION:

As a member of the Global Merchandising team; this role reports to the Global Director of Channel Merchandising and will lead strategic global merchandising for both of our global key account (GKA) wholesale partners within the athletic specialty channel. You will lead a coordinated effort on shaping the strategic planning across multiple business units and in alignment of global category direction. Your team will own the global merchandising GKA plan(s) that are deployed by the regional channel merchandising teams across NA, EMEA and APAC. The plans will be informed by global business analytic insights, consumer research and marketplace dynamics.

Direct input into the global long-range plans with ownership of the key product, lifecycle management, architecture product mix and segmentation strategy for each account.

This position can be based at either our headquarters in Boston, MA, or our office in Warrington, UK, operating on a hybrid schedule of three days on-site and two days remote per week.

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Oversight of a strategic GKA merchandising plan, aligned to the objectives and strategies of both businesses’ ambitions and New Balance brand alignment.

• Understanding of broader consumer behavior across lifestyle, fashion and sport marketplace. With an in-depth understanding of the target consumer within the distribution channel.

• Manage and develop team members by providing clear direction, coaching, feedback and support grounded in brand approach, commercial ambition and company values.

• Reconcile regional commercial input across both accounts, with direct input back through the global category merchandising team.

• Drive the GKA assortment strategy in each go-to-market milestone; ensuring priority categories and global model focus are executed in conjunction with model lifecycle planning and long-range plan.

• Development of assortments that achieve shape, share and product mix targets defined in the long-range-plans; while protecting integrity of key franchises through lifecycle management.

• Protect the integrity of key models and franchisees through disciplined lifecycle management and product segmentation. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required, a minimum of 12-15+ years of industry experience with preferred working experience directly with wholesale partners.  

• Candidate must be deadline oriented, analytically skilled, exceptional at managing multiple projects simultaneously, a resourceful problem solver with a DIY approach.

• Knowledgeable in channel segmentation, range architecture, product assortment planning, concept drivers and product flow.

• Sophisticated communicator, able to clearly present and negotiate with the key account team as well as influence multiple regions, cultures, and senior leadership. 

• Candidate must have solid oral and written communications skills, that influence alignment to strategic direction of merchandising plan. An ability to build strong internal/external relationships.

• Candidate must be energetic, have a positive can-do attitude and experience working in a team environment with proven leadership skills that align the team to a common outcome.

• Ideal location is geographically close to the key account headquarters/New Balance offices; Manchester, ENG or Boston, MA with international travel requirements at key GTM gates.

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