Market Vice President Merchandising

Job Summary

The Market Vice President of Merchandising leads regional or market-level merchandising teams, overseeing product assortment, inventory management, and execution of corporate and local strategies. This executive role is responsible for driving sales growth, optimizing operational efficiencies, and ensuring exemplary customer service through effective merchandising practices and communication.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Management:
• Lead and develop regional merchandising teams, champion talent development/management, fostering engagement and enablement through regular meetings and ongoing communication to build future-ready teams.
• Collaborate / partner with market, regional, and corporate leadership across all functions to deliver against key performance indicators (KPIs) tied to sales, gross profit (GP), margin, CPP, fill rate, customer satisfaction and annual operating plans.
• Demonstrate effectiveness and collaboration in leading a remote team.
• Partner closely with the GSC teams (e.g. Category Management, SCIM, RevMan, etc.) to ensure seamless strategy execution, enterprise alignment and local-market alignment.
• Strategic Merchandising Execution:
• Drive execution of corporate strategies such as PGM and product assortment management, balancing national and local assortments to meet market demands.
• Oversee buying and sourcing functions, including vendor relationships, contract negotiations, and supply chain optimization.
• Ensure merchandising execution enhances customer experience, loyalty, and differentiation in partnership with Sales and adjacent organizations.
• Inventory Management & Financial Performance:
• Lead regional activities delivering inventory levels to achieve service level goals, minimize aging and obsolete stock, and reduce spoilage in partnership with SCIM.
• Monitor regional profitability through product cost and GP management.
• Accountable for market/regional merchandising P&L performance; ensure top-line sales growth, margin improvement, and cost-to-serve optimization to drive sales growth targets.
• Operational Excellence:
• Deploy inbound logistics and replenishment strategies that contribute to warehouse operational efficiencies.
• Provide field feedback to regional, market, and corporate teams for continuous improvement.
• Policy & Compliance:
• Interpret, train, and reinforce company policies, procedures, and tools across all merchandising functions.
• Ensure compliance with internal standards and external regulations, including vendor setup and documentation requirements.

Essential Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Proven ability to build high-performing teams and enable a culture of best practices.
• Strong analytical skills for interpreting data and making informed decisions.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills for cross-functional collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to and lead change in a fast-paced environment driving adoption of new systems, tools, and operating models across the Market.
• Experience in category management, merchandising, and/or operations within retail, wholesale, or distribution.
• Proactive attitude in identifying and addressing issues as they arise.

Preferred Experience

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in merchandising, supply chain, or category management with P&L accountability, 5+ years in management or professional merchandising roles.
• Significant experience in product assortment, sales growth, and gross margin optimization.
• Ability to develop and implement innovative strategies to maximize sales and profitability while driving customer loyalty.