Merchandising Manager, Global Key Accounts, JD Sports Apparel

Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today.

JOB MISSION: The Merchandising Manager is responsible for the art and science of merchandising from a global business unit perspective. Define the global and regional market place capacities informed by data from the business analysts and consumer insights from the research teams. Partner with the Global Business Unit creation teams & marketing leads to build a plan that achieves the commercial goals & satisfies the brand ambition. The Global Key Accounts need to represent the true spirit of the brand, the merchant needs to maintain the integrity of this spirit and commercialize the investments being made to shape the brands future. Be the independent mediator between GBU and regional merchant teams and the commercial teams. Develop pragmatic strategy and solutions that find optimal ground between commercial, brand and business goals. Deliver specific global key account assortments that are both inline and exclusive propositions and aligned to the brand priorities and goals each season.

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Lead the merchandising efforts for the Apparel Business Unit and be the conduit in and out of the regions for the GBU for JD Sports.
• Partner with functional and cross functional team members to provide direction & guidance, plus feedback based on brand goals and values and commercial needs.
• Deliver a seasonal JD Sports apparel plan & assortment, story led, with planned product mix and lifecycles.
• Integrate consumer insights and regional feedback to inform the overall long-range plan for the business unit as it relates to the JD Sports apparel business.
• Solicit, consolidate, and reconcile commercial regional input, (be a key participant in the convergence process).
• Validate GBU creation plans and consumer intent prior to handoff to regional GBU & channel merch.
• Ensure GBU & brand plans are adopted at each milestone consistently in all markets.
• Drive the JD Sports brand assortment at each milestone stage, ensure key stories are front and center for the season.
• Ensure consistency in adoption and lifecycle planning to overall apparel business.
• Build GKA assortments and plans alongside global DTC and wholesale assortments.
• Set the GBU & category plans to align from a timing point of view to the incubate, launch & sustain lifecycle phases.
• Build assortments to pre-planned shape, share and mix targets established in the LRP and for the season for JD Sports.
• Establish & maintain the integrity of key Franchises through lifecycle management & product segmentation.
• Facilitate key touch points and milestones with the markets, planning, GTM milestones and certain commercial touchpoints.
• Serve as the cross functional team voice in mid to long term strategy planning.
• Be the day to day go to for the regions within the GBU & category go to market process.
• Work alongside the broader GTM team to ensure the GBU and merch vision comes to life each season.

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS:

• 5+ years of industry experience preferably in footwear/apparel and/or merchandising.
• Be comfortable with ambiguity, knowing the optimal solution will often be made up of multiple compromises.
• Ability to balance and rationalize objective and subjective points of view and opinions.
• Have a strong background of analytics and product / marketplace & consumer knowledge, art & science, possess data and creative skills.
• Knowledge of channel segmentation, range architecture, product assortments, concept drivers, and product flow.
• Have the ability to attend physically or virtually all major milestones including summit meetings, product milestones, go-to-market milestones, etc.
• Sophisticated communicator, able to clearly present and negotiate with multiple regions, cultures and areas of expertise at all levels.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills are essential.
• Attend where possible select market milestones in order to gain and maintain a strong global perspective. (budget and time dependent).
• Open to change and new ways of working. Capable of building new ways of working and processes/systems.
• Travel required.

This position is based out of our Warrington office in the UK.

Flexible Work Schedule: For decades we have fostered a unique culture founded on our values with a particular focus on in-person teamwork and collaboration. Our hybrid model encourages rich in-person experiences, showcasing our commitment to teamwork and connection, while providing high levels of flexibility to associates. North American office-based associates are expected to come into the office on Wednesdays, with other occasional in-office days for in-person meetings and events as needed. Our offices are fully open and amenities are available across our North American office locations.

Equal Opportunity Employer: New Balance provides equal opportunities for all current and prospective associates and takes affirmative action to ensure that employment, training, compensation, transfer, promotion and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment are provided without regard to race, colour, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, handicap, genetic information and/or status as an Armed Forces service medal veteran, recently separated veteran, qualified disabled veteran or other protected veteran.