Senior Manager, Buying – Shoes
About the role:
CHANEL, Inc., a leader in the luxury goods industry, is seeking aSenior Manager, Buying 6 Shoesfor the U.S. Fashion Division.
In this role, you will partner with the Senior Group Director, Shoes to implement seasonal merchandising strategies and develop distinctive, fashion-forward assortments aligned with global and regionalobjectives. You will bring together a strong product point of view, commercial acumen, and deep understanding of the U.S. client to drive the Shoes business across boutiques and channels.
What impact you can create at CHANEL:
Business Management
- Partner with the Senior Group Director, Shoes to shape, implement, and champion the categorys strategic vision and key initiatives.
- Curate creative, commercially relevant assortments across eight collections annually, reflecting each collections spirit, U.S. market needs, budget forecasts, and the unique opportunities of each boutique.
- Optimize inventory through proactive transfers, consolidations, and fulfillment of client requests.
- Identify product opportunities through comprehensive analysis of competitive activity, market trends, and category performance; translate insights into clear recommendations for local and global leadership.
- Lead the U.S. pricing and harmonization process for Shoes, collaborating closely with Account Management, Global Finance, Technology, and Supply Chain teams.
- Partner with Visual Merchandising and Fashion Expertise teams to ensure compelling collection presentation for launches, events, and key boutique moments, aligned with seasonal brand-image priorities and business strategies.
- Collaborate with adjacent product-category teams to deliver a cohesive, holistic merchandising approach across the Fashion division.
- Partner with Merchandise Planning to ensure business trends, client insights, and assortment strategies are accurately reflected in financial forecasts and plans.
- Maintain a strong understanding of industry trends, the competitive landscape, key influencers, and evolving client preferences.
- Build trusted, influential partnerships across the organization to advance business objectives.
- Challenge the status quo, identify opportunities for greater efficiency, and navigate roadblocks with thoughtful, creative solutions.
Reporting & Analysis
- Own Open-to-Buy (OTB) accountability and lead in-season business analysis, including the ongoing evolution of reporting tools and processes.
- Develop and present buy reviews that clearly articulate assortment strategy, product rationale, and collection objectives.
- Lead weekly, monthly, quarterly, and seasonal performance analyses; communicate key findings and recommendations to relevant stakeholders.
- Conduct ad hoc analyses to uncover new insights, identify opportunities, and inform strategic decisions.
- Partner with Client Analytics and Digital Marketing teams to synthesize data into a compelling category and client narrative.
Retail Connection
- Communicate seasonal product vision to boutique teams, inspiring confidence in bold assortments and driving engagement through effective styling and storytelling.
- Build a deep understanding of the retail landscape and U.S. client by regularly spending time in boutiques and engaging directly with retail teams.
- Foster an environment of open dialogue, knowledge sharing, and idea generation through regular touchpoints beyond formal buying sessions, ensuring local-market and client needs are well understood.
- Develop a strong understanding of how CHANEL technology tools support the client journey and identify opportunities to enhance the client experience.
You are energized by:
- Bringing enthusiasm, energy, and an ability to inspire others around product, retail, and the CHANEL brand.
- Combining a strong fashion aesthetic with a client-centered and commercially minded approach to product.
- Using a highly analytical mindset to independently formulate hypotheses, interpret complex data, and draw actionable conclusions.
- Collaborating across diverse cross-functional teams with a service-oriented mindset and the ability to build influential partnerships.
- Demonstrating curiosity, intuition, drive, authenticity, and self-awareness.
- Translating a deep understanding of client needs into clear team objectives and coordinated execution across business partners.
- Learning and optimizing systems and processes; advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint is required, and Power BI experience is a plus.
- Thriving in a dynamic, evolving environment with demonstrated initiative, strong prioritization skills, and a continuous-improvement mindset.
- Engaging with clients and retail teams to understand and enhance the end-to-end client experience.
- Maintaining genuine curiosity about the world around you and bringing an authentic, informed perspective to the role.
Position Logistics:
- Partially Remote: Role requires a minimum of three days in-person office presence at the designated location/office.
- Bachelors degree required.
- Minimum of seven years of experience in buying or in a strategic and analytical merchandising role, with a demonstrated track record of driving business results.
- Experience in fashion and/or luxury retail is preferred.
- This position is based in the New York Home Office.
- Ability to travel domestically for market enrichment, events, and boutique-opening support, as well as internationally for select collections.
*Chanel, Inc. reserves the right to edit, change, or make exceptions on designations where circumstances where deemed appropriate.
Compensation:
- The anticipated base salary range for this position is 90,000 through 135,000. Base salary is one component of the total compensation for this position. Other forms of variable pay [may/will] be offered for this position. Other components [may/will] include bonus potential, benefits, and/or perks.
Benefits and Perks:
- Wellbeing resources include dedicated paid time off for wellbeing (2-week August Office Closure) and a Wellbeing fund
- Family and care giving benefits (inclusive of parental leave, fertility support, MilkStork, and Care.com Membership)
- Generous paid time off policies to include vacation, holiday, sick and volunteer days
- 401K and other incentives
- Robust healthcare offerings; medical, dental, vision, MDLIVE (virtual care), One Medical, Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care & Dependent Care), Health Savings Account and Employee Assistance Program
- Life insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Health Advocate, International Business Travel Accident & Medical, and Commuter Transit & Parking
Additional Information:
