* Trusted, eye catching, multi branded WHL & Retail group
* Build on the highest growth pillar in the business - Private Label
* Culture of care, flexibility, support & development
What is in this for you?
* A career defining role: This is one of highest profile roles in the Merchandise team where you will be fully empowered to own and accelerate the capability and scale of the Private Label offer
* The opportunity to: Collaborate, learn and be inspired from the best. This is the home to some of the best mentors, leaders and minds in the industry
* The offices are in the South East: It’s flexible, open and collaborative, set up to leverage the sharing and expertise that everyone brings for the days when you are in the office
* It’s fun: It’s a place where unique talents are leveraged, and success is celebrated
* The sky and breadth for further career possibilities are limitless for performers, due to the size, nature and ongoing growth of the business
* A workplace that lives, operates and stands by its ‘people centric’ values. It’s a great place to work!
* The package – its attractive, with many financial and non-financial benefits
* It’s a career opportunity of a lifetime: where you can take a division and its team, from ‘great to greater!’
Your prospective employer:
Be empowered, lead the development, re-invent the proposition, inspire and develop your team. This is your opportunity to take the private label and sourcing division to a whole new level
This sizeable national retailer and distributor with hundreds of stores nationally is tackling their market opponents ‘head-on’ with exceptional breadth and quality of range and advice. Success is achieved in the Private Label & Sourcing division through the application of superior sourcing, product development, trading and planning practices as well as the ability to translate trends and develop products to the needs of their customers. The Private label division therefore assumes an increasingly pivotal role in the overall range offering as customers seek both value and quality in their purchases. To ensure they continue to maintain their competitive edge, this impressive group is now seeking a Merchandise Manager to head up the Private Label division, to build on and own the strategy and to develop the high performing team within
What will you do?
Reporting into the GM Merchandise your remit will be to build the strategic framework that will ensure an ongoing competitive private label offer that suits the needs of their hundreds of customers via their Retail stores and Distributors. More specifically this will see you:
* Work in collaboration with the Category Management team and other Merchandise Managers, identifying positional opportunities for Private Label products and sourcing opportunities
* Leverage your eye for trends by keeping well in tune with the market, to ensure you and your team effectively identifies, sources and implements new product opportunities and initiatives, which are competitively priced, commercially viable and meet customer needs
* Conduct extensive market review to compare competitors’ products, to look for opportunities for new designs, and product improvements against competitors
* Ensure the products are delivered on time, and that each process from design, manufacture, sample approval and artwork/packaging is at the agreed level to the Private Label’s team standards
* Along with your team, liaise with the Category Managers to ensure range reviews, retail catalogues and online sales events have the relevant private label product representation in line with the Private Label strategy
* Collaborate cross-functionally to effectively integrate the new offer into the existing range programs and once implemented, continue to review, extend and maximise the offering to drive sales beyond industry benchmarks
Here’s what it will take:
* You are proven: You have solid experience developing and sourcing products (and brands) from your experience as a Private Label/Product/Development/Category/Sourcing/Merchandise Manager from within a Retailer and/or Supplier/Manufacturer. You therefore have a solid understanding of category management principles, as well as have depth of knowledge in private label development and sourcing
* You are at the right level: you are proven at a manager level, where you have developed and inspired a team of direct reports, ideally within sourcing/private label development
* Category experience: All will be considered. We are more interested in your leadership and sourcing and product development experience vs knowledge of a certain category type. This opportunity, however, leans to more a hard goods vs soft good background
* Strong project management skills: you are brilliant at managing stakeholders to meet key delivery deadlines
* Proven understanding and demonstrated application of the Australian Standards and relevant product certification requirements in the product development process, as well as a working appreciation of how this function works into broader Category Management disciplines
* Importantly, you have an eye for trends and a natural enthusiasm for bringing new products to market that meet customer demands, and surprise/delight customers at the same time
* Are commercially astute, innovative and assertive and identifying emerging trends and maximising opportunities are seen as your forte
* You are authentic, charismatic, a credible negotiator and are always in it for a win-win
* You inspire: You have drive, determination and commitment that inspires others
* You listen and others listen to you; you collaborate well
* You have passion: Simply put, you just ‘love’ what you do, and you are awesome at it!
If this sounds like you, apply ASAP. Otherwise, for further questions or a confidential discussion, please contact Gabby Symons on 0432 261 116 or via gabbys@peopleequity.com.au