Director Of Retail Buying

Department: Retail

Reports to: CSO

Location: Remote

Position Summary:

The Director of Retail Buying & Planning is accountable for maximizing their category sales and profitability in alignment with the company strategies and brand. They will develop and execute buying strategies across relevant product categories to achieve short and long-term financial goals (sales, margin, profitability). This involves developing and executing a robust buying strategy, driving product development with the in-house design team, leading the buying team to high performance, devising compelling marketing and promotions programs, and maintaining a focus on continuous learning and improvement. This individual takes an active leadership role responsible for evolving your team's culture through a customer-first mindset, fostering cross-functional team collaboration, developing buying and planning talent, and supporting the continuous evolution of business processes to maximize resources. Must have experience with buying cannabis products and accessories/work in the cannabis industry.

Responsibilities:

• Recommend, plan and/or implement employee training and skill development activities.
• Provide product development recommendations to the in-house design team; bring fresh perspectives to the table that reflect price point and design trend needs.
• Manage employee performance and assist employees in making improvements to their performance through coaching, mentoring, and administering performance reviews.
• Research and shop competitors to ensure the Company is a category value leader.
• Negotiate with vendors and others to maximize profitability and achieve financial objectives by securing the best opportunities in pricing, quantity, freight terms, allowances and product packaging based on the purchasing plan.
• Ensure all product documentation is complete and on file with required departments.
• Travel to retail store locations to conduct velocity walks; review and evaluate product mix and gain insight regarding the quality or other issues and translate those findings into executable plans.
• Provide educational material to the field through launch process.
• Communicate company and departmental issues and goals and facilitate employee growth and development through weekly team meetings, regular individual employee meetings, coaching, training, and company-offered learning opportunities.
• Demonstrate the Company's Core and Growth Values in the performance of all job functions.
• Serve as the product merchandise advocate for the enterprise stores as well as the licensee network.
• Audit regularly to ensure standard operating procedures are being adhered to.
• Review and approve the accuracy of all strategic and technical information, such as product mix, item selection, item description, price direction, etc., prior to set deadlines.
• Audit, maintain and ensure employee time-keeping and absentee records are accurate.
• Make employment decisions and/or recommendations on hiring, improvement plans, transfers, promotions, corrective actions, terminations, pay adjustments, etc.
• Assist in decision-making regarding prices, quantities, freight terms, allowances and product packaging based on the purchasing plan.
• Review and analyze consumer demographic and psychographic characteristics, fashion trends, retail landscape, and other relevant data to stylistically interpret, financially plan for and react to emerging market trends and conditions.
• Coordinate and manage the work of employees by directing members of the team to meet the area's goals.
• Partner with merchandise planning to develop and implement a balanced investment strategy by category and store type.
• Determine appropriate competitive strategies to drive category product development, good/better/best quality merchandise assortment and quantity, purchase, pricing, margin, promotion, and clearance to complement the other product categories and maximize return of advertising investment.
• Manage resources to optimize equipment, facilities, employees, methods, and materials.
• Participate, as needed, in planogram and display concept set-up, as well as new store set-up.
• Report to the executive team on the state of the category using financial analysis and other fact-based data in terms of current performance, new styles, trends, promotions, best sellers, etc.
• Partner with marketing for promotion collateral development, as well as promotional calendar and market calendar reconciliation.

Qualifications

• Strong skills in agility, along with the ability to pivot easily when directions and priorities changes on short notice
• Working knowledge of Continuous Improvement
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Respond professionally in situations with difficult employee/vendor/customer issues or inquiries
• Work professionally with customers and co-workers to efficiently serve our customers, treating both with enthusiasm and respect
• Proven ability to interpret analytics to inform, implement and drive strategies.
• Strong attention to detail
• Handle multiple projects simultaneously within established time constraints
• Proven ability to effectively lead in a fast-paced, highly dynamic & matrixed environment with a collaborative focus on driving business results
• 5 years' experience in purchasing, buying, merchandising, brand management, marketing or related field, preferably in home case goods in multiple, global locations, Required
• Display empathy, understanding and patience with employees and external customers
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Supervisory/Management experience
• Effective time management and organizational skills
• Work independently as well as in a team environment
• Proficient computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office Suite, internet