Skechers Hiring for DIRECTOR OF MERCHANDISING, INTERNATIONAL JV at Manhattan Beach, California Full Time

Join the thousands of innovators, advocates and forces who are making an impact every day at one of the biggest footwear brands in the world. Whether you love to connect with consumers on the retail floor or want to drive our award-winning powerhouse in new directions, the SKECHERS team is the place to be. Learn more about our brand at skx.com. 

Job Description

To effectively drive, communicate, and influence the overall merchandising strategies to our Asia Joint Venture partners, while promoting global brand consistencies on key company initiatives.  The Director, International Merchandising will be a key team leader within the China JV Merchandising team, supporting the continued growth of Skechers business.  Direct and manage direct reports to drive opportunities, challenge and evolve current processes and systems in support of company objectives.

Essential Job Results-

• Deliver product and business strategy for China, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and South Korea joint venture teams.
• In partnership with JV counterparts, lead and communicate Retail and Wholesale merchandising strategies.  Leveraging product opportunities and business initiatives across international channels.
• Collaborate closely with the VP/GMM of International on any relevant business needs, and all day to day functions.
• Create relevant product assortments at the country/channel level that drive business in determined distribution.
• Effectively communicate day to day product assortments, need to evolve current processes that are more efficient and effective.
• Develop assortments tailored to our partner’s opportunities and customer needs based on selling reports.
• Orchestrate conference calls on a regular basis with international teams as needed.  Evening flexibility is crucial based on Asia time zones.
• Seasonal Product Conferences: Support in-person International conferences twice a year in our MB showroom, presenting product and driving overall company key strategies.  In lieu of in-person product conferences, you will lead seasonal product meetings virtually with each country partner’s teams.
• Review weekly best sellers for U.S. and International Skechers businesses, effectively communicating missed opportunities.
• Review weekly/monthly/seasonal/YTD actual shipments and bookings against plans at the total level and channel level.
• Partner with Business Unit Merchants to understand, influence and drive business objectives/customer needs, and identify category/product opportunities.
• Effectively communicate product opportunities with product team based on trends, country partner insights, and selling reports.
• Drive assortment style and flow needs
• Communicate changes and impacts cross-functionally.
• Ensure that corporate deadlines are met in order to deliver product on a timely manner based on our partner’s needs.

Additional Responsibilities-

• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities-

•   Yes.

Job Requirements-

• Experience managing a team of 5-10 direct reports including hiring, development and motivating of subordinates.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (including pivot tables and v-lookups) Excellent product sensibility and conceptual ability
• Ability to adapt to ever changing priorities
• Comprehensive understanding of retail math
• Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills
• Ability to take initiative, ownership and accountability for business
• Strong sense of teamwork and ability to multi-task
• Strong leadership skills with ability to motivate and develop a team
• Optimistic and Entrepreneurial
• Complete and comprehensive experience with merchandising global footwear/apparel product
• Strong industry knowledge including retail and wholesale aspects of the business
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable in a multi-task environment with a sense of urgency
• Well-organized with focused attention to detail

Education and Experience-

• 10-15 years’ experience within both Merchandising and Merchandise Planning within the footwear or apparel industry
• Bachelor’s degree required
• International wholesale experience and sales background required

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The skills, abilities and physical demands described are representative of those duties that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified for the job position, to perform the essential functions.

Additional Information

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to walk; sit, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel. The employee is occasionally required to sit for long period of times.  The employee is regularly required to lift a 35 – 40lb dress form for garment evaluations.