Director of Merchandising

Director Of MerchandisingHaddad is a privately held family business with over 100 years of experience in the children's apparel & accessories industry. A leader in the industry, Haddad Brands is the exclusive global licensee for the most iconic brands in the world, including Nike, Jordan, Converse, Hurley, Levi's, Polo, Abercrombie and Fitch, Lacoste, and Huggies. Supported by a team of professionals skilled in design, sourcing, production, sales, marketing & distribution of premium quality children's wear, Haddad distributes globally to 100+ countries and maintains sales and sourcing offices in 22 cities globally, including New York, Paris, Hilversum, Shanghai, Egypt, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Montreal.The Director of Merchandising will define and oversee the strategy, vision, and execution of line planning and assortment maximization for a division or brand(s).Key Accountabilities:Act as primary contact for assigned brand(s) licensee(s) to execute the vision of the brand(s) and maintain alignment and consistency in the marketplaceLead and present in licensor milestone meetings and present the product accordinglyEffectively manage global line planning and SKU counts so that all brand, geo, company initiatives and opportunities are metOversee the development of directed assortments for each segment of distribution that align with corporate vision and ensure that retail brand presentations appropriately represent the product we sell in to capture strong retail salesGuide the creation of market research on competition in relation to brand(s) and lead in the analysis to influence line development and MSRPs that will drive the businessEducate cross functional leadership on the competitive landscape and identify/present retail opportunitiesEducate sales on the product strategy, merchandise assortments and recommended flow for the seasonPartner closely with Design leadership to execute their vision while hitting retail goals. Be vocal on cross merchandised strategies to best meet all geo needsPartner with Planning and Sales to develop and execute seasonal budgets and plan the merchandise flow and assortment accordinglyPartner with Sales to support account strategy/exclusives and ensure sales goals are met by accountPartner with Marketing and Integrated Marketplace leadership to ensure the Merchandising team is supporting the development of brand awareness, advertising, photo shoots and in store supportRecruit top talent, train, develop and motivate team members to ensure all business needs are metDevelop strategy decks for licensor executives that indicate current sales, future strategies and opportunities in marketOwn the SMU approval processSpecial projects as assignedRequired Skills/Abilities/Education:Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business Administration or related field8+ years of experience in the wholesale fashion industryAbility to travel as needed (up to 40%)Strong communication, presentation, and organizational skillsAbility to understand and explain the brand's needs