As our Manager Divisional Merchandise, you will be responsible for driving sales, margins, and contributing growth across categories that are high volume and/or high growth. Develop and execute merchandising strategies that align with company direction.  Manage the development of merchandise assortments that meet customer needs and financial objectives of the company across catalog, internet and other identified sales channels.  Mentor and develop direct reports.  Foster cross-functional collaboration across product development, sourcing, quality assurance, merchandise planning, inventory, marketing, e-commerce, and creative.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions

1. Manage customer solution(s) ensuring performance to planned financial objectives
2. Oversee development of balanced assortment plans accounting for customer needs, market position/trends, historical performance and business goals
3. Lead merchant for our wholesale division with focus on retail, redemption and promotional products
4. Lead global sourcing efforts with focus on diversifying country of origin
5. Manage product life cycles, establish pricing strategies and manage product price points to maximize sales, sell-through and profitability
6. Ensure cross-solution interaction to mitigate product duplication, improve product performance and productivity
7. Develop merchandising plans by solution, category and product across catalog, internet and other identified channels to drive sales and meet contribution margin targets
8. Communicates financial objectives, solution strategies, and assortment plans with cross-functional partners including Marketing, E-Commerce, Product Development, Sourcing, Quality Assurance, Merchandise Planning, Inventory and Creative
9. Partners with cross-functional teams to achieve financial objectives including sales, gross-margin, contribution, fill rates, inventory turn and sell-through and sku productivity
10. Supervise train and coach a team of 3 – 5 merchants, associate merchants and assistant merchants
11. Ensure engagement goals are met
12. Ensure calendar deadlines are met
13. Leverage company direction to develop long-term strategies in conjunction with cross-functional partners to achieve company objectives
14. Collaborate with Product Design to identify relevant trends and concepts
15. Develop new product and update existing products that align with performance, trends and concepts
16. Partner with Sourcing, Quality Assurance and Inventory to meet cost, quality and delivery objectives
17. Work with Merchandise Planning to develop financial plans, demand forecasts and in-season forecasts
18. Partner with Marketing and E-Commerce to develop pre-season contact strategy, budgets and promotions across channels and touchpoints
19. Collaborate with Creative to ensure presentation meets the needs of the business and aligns with brand strategy
20. Know and leverage market trends, strengths and opportunities within area of responsibility through keen assessment and analysis of competitive set
21. Oversees and participates in market travel, domestically and internationally
22. Must maintain an active US Passport
23. Maintains regular and predictable attendance
24. Abides by all policies and procedures of Oriental Trading Company
25. Must be able to attend face to face meetings on short or little advance notice
26. Work requires in-person collaboration among colleagues and contractors

Marginal Functions

1. Performs other duties and projects as assigned
2. Participates in process and procedural changes which will improve operations of the department 

Here’s what you need to join the fun:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Possess a proven track record of merchandising business management, success and growth
• Experience with retail and planogram programs in mass retail or significant redemption and promotional centers
• Ability to recognize and research trends, competitors, and market conditions
• Ability to analyze quantitative data
• Proficient in communicating, presenting, negotiating and influencing appropriately to all levels of the organization
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally to trade shows and vendor visits
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and communicate appropriately to all levels of the organization
• Ability to lead, manage, and develop team members toward personal, departmental and organizational goals
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude, set priorities and remain flexible in an ever changing environment
• Awareness of federal, legal and regulatory requirements that impact the assigned responsibility
• Proficient in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and Access
• Ability to perform the job in a safe manner
• Ability to walk, sit, and stand, for short and extended periods of time

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Merchandising, Business, related field or equivalent combination of education and experience

Experience

• 7-10 years merchandising or related experience, including 2-5 years of managerial experience preferred

Join us at Oriental Trading, a Berkshire Hathaway Company, where fun means business! 

Oriental Trading Company (www.orientaltrading.com), is the nation’s largest direct retailer of value-priced party supplies, arts and crafts, toys and novelties, and a leading provider of teaching supplies and affordable home décor and giftware. Founded in 1932 by a Japanese American, the Oriental Trading history of fun spans the better part of the last century. Today, Oriental Trading offers more than 60,000 products to individuals, teachers, schools, churches, businesses and nonprofits. With a corporate vision to “Make Life More Fun,” Oriental Trading (a Berkshire Hathaway company) spreads joy and smiles to millions each year through a robust family of brands; Oriental Trading, Fun Express, MindWare, SmileMakers, Morris Costumes and halloweenexpress.com.

EOE