Job Summary

Responsible for leading and executing the product development strategy and objectives for the Private Brands organization. This role influences and drives the overall performance of the Private Brand portfolio, including financial outcomes, supplier strategy, new product development, and brand architecture to meet business needs. It oversees and coordinates product development activities across all functional disciplines, while fostering long-term strategic partnerships across the enterprise. The role also integrates a high-performing, motivated sourcing team into an enterprise support structure and collaborates across multiple geographies and work cultures to enhance sourcing productivity, diversify country of origin, and strengthen supply chain resiliency.

Major Tasks, Responsibilities and Key Accountabilities

• Leads overall department performance by developing and presenting a comprehensive product development strategy.

• Tailors strategy to meet the unique needs of each product category.

• Collaborates closely with Private Brand and Category Management peers to ensure functional alignment and integration, ensuring Private Brand solutions support overall category strategy goals and objectives.

• Develops strategic plans to increase Private Brand penetration and achieve financial targets.

• Leads the strategic sourcing approach and oversees sourcing processes for the Private Brand organization.

• Leads the creation of new processes to establish a consistent and repeatable approach for developing Private Brand solutions.

• Provides leadership to Private Brand Category and Sourcing Directors, ensuring effective support to Category Management and overseeing staffing decisions, performance evaluations, and professional development.

• Leads key strategic projects that impact one or more product categories within the Private Brand organization.

Nature and Scope

• Problems are complex and may be defined by higher level leadership. Solutions require high strategic level analysis and investigation.

• Drives strategy and methodology and serves as the subject-matter expert for policies and practices. Decides how to achieve planned results within an organization's plans, policies, and guidelines.

• Manages via multiple layers OR directly supervises a staff of professional individual contributors at the senior or technical advisor level. Directs budgetary responsibility at the enterprise level or for two or more businesses across the enterprise.

Work Environment

• Located in a comfortable indoor area. Conditions could produce mild discomfort on occasion.

• Most of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position and there is frequent opportunity to move about. On rare occasions there may be a need to move or lift light articles.

• Typically requires overnight travel 20% to 50% of the time.

Education and Experience

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of experience in a related field OR MS/MA and generally 8+ years of experience in a related field.  Maintains expert knowledge in area of responsibility with a strong understanding in adjacent areas for the development of creative solutions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Over 15 years of experience in product development, execution, visual presentation, new concept creation, inventory and channel management, and supplier management.

• Proven ability to lead and manage large-scale projects in complex environments.

• Demonstrated success in both brick-and-mortar and online retail settings.

• Experienced in global supplier management with strong cross-cultural collaboration skills.

• Strong business management capabilities across financial, operational, process, people, and technology domains.

• Familiar with complex supplier negotiations, including tariffs, international freight, and product first cost analysis, with a deep understanding of net/net all-in pricing.

• Advanced understanding of sales drivers, logistics, and supply chain processes.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, with specialized expertise in Excel. Strong project execution skills with attention to detail and operational efficiency.