Strategic Sourcing Manager

WHSmith North America; Las Vegas (NV); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

WHSmith North America is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Manager to procure, develop, and manage merchandise assortments aligned with sales, margin, and turnover targets. The role partners with the DVP and Planner to craft category and supplier strategies.

This is not a people leadership position. You will develop assortment strategies, coordinate Open-to-Buy budgets with planners, negotiate with vendors for best terms, analyze performance across store levels, and support merchandising meetings and

Qualifications

• 3+ years of merchandise buying experience within a multi-unit retail organization.
• Product development and assortment planning experience required.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Strong command of merchandising and retail math, including OTB management.
• Ability to adapt, multi-task and problem solve in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute merchandise assortment strategies to meet or exceed financial goals.
• Product development as needed in accordance with brands, departments, and concepts.
• Partner with Planner to manage and adhere to Open-to-Buy (OTB) budget.
• Work with vendors to resolve purchase order discrepancies and compliance issues.
• Analyze business at division, department, class, subclass, attribute, and store level.
• Create and maintain open lines of communication with Planner, Store Managers, Regional Managers and others.
• Negotiate with vendors to secure best terms for maximum margin, including income and pricing, as well as markdown and RTVs.
• Prepare for and participate in merchandising meetings and reviews.
• Develop seasonal trend presentations and participate in seasonal workshops.
• Visit stores to evaluate assortments, stock levels, and market trends; gather feedback.
• Research new markets for new stores and participate in Planogram meetings.

Skills

Merchandising

Open-to-Buy management

Vendor negotiation

Retail math

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Strategic Sourcing Manager is responsible for procuring, developing, and managing effective merchandise assortments to achieve the sales, margin, and turnover targets for his/her respective buying areas. In partnership with their DVP and respective Planner, the Buyer will create the appropriate merchandise mix and develop category and supplier strategies. This is not a people leadership role.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and execute merchandise assortment strategies to meet or exceed the financial goals
• Product development as needed in accordance with the respective brands, departments, and concepts.
• Partner with Planner to manage and adhere to Open-to-Buy (OTB) budget.
• Work with vendors to resolve purchase order discrepancies and compliance issues.
• Analyze business at division, department, class, subclass, attribute, and store level.
• Create and maintain open lines of communication with Planner, Store Managers, Regional Managers and other co-workers.
• Negotiate with vendors to secure the best terms for maximum margin results, including supplier income, and best pricing as well as markdown and/or RTV agreements.
• Prepare for and participate in regular Merchandising meetings such as Weekly Performance Meetings, Month End Review / OTB meetings, Collaboration meetings, New Store Review meetings, etc.
• Develop seasonal trend presentations and participate in seasonal workshops to educate the field organization (applicable by merchandise category).
• Visit our stores (including visits on location as requested) to evaluate assortments, presentations, stock levels, marketing, customers, and obtain feedback from store personnel. Visit competitors to evaluate pricing, assortments, and market trends for possible opportunities.
• Carry out tasks related to new stores, including research into new markets (including visits on location as requested), participating in Planogram meetings, developing new assortments for new concepts or stores, etc.
• Work closely with Planner to manage allocation, reorder flow, and product lifecycle including promos, markdowns, transfers and RTVs.

Qualifications:

• 3+ years of merchandise buying experience within a multi-unit retail organization.
• Product development and assortment planning experience required.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Strong command of merchandising and retail math, including Open-to-Buy (OTB) management.
• Ability to adapt, multi-task and problem solve in a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with a merchandising software platform.