Senior Merchandiser, Ann Taylor Tops

At ANN INC., WE GET WOMEN. Real women live ever morecomplicated lives. They juggle more activities, play more roles and carry moreexpectations. But what women value is what they have always valued: connectingwith others, making smart choices, looking and feeling great. Living life fullymeans women choose to play all their roles with confidence and style.

For more than half a century, we have evolved with theneeds of real women who live full, active lives. Our values are her values. Weget that a woman expresses herself through what she wears – at work, at homeand at play. To meet her needs, we design pieces for her life and her changingroles to help her look and feel confident and beautiful. We create richexperiences that connect with her wherever she is, inspire her style andsimplify her choices.

About thePosition:

The SeniorMerchant develops and drives Omni Channel business strategies to meet or exceeddepartmental financial objectives for multiple and/or high volumedepartments. Builds a collection that isconsistently client focused and brand appropriate in collaboration withfunctional partners. Leads the CFT and influences the division (50% tactical,50% strategic).

• Accountable for delivering department financials
• Analyze and drive the store and online business based on sales, history,company, and market trends
• Own changes to plans based on Merchandising strategies
• Responsible for vision and execution of collection that ties back tofinancial plans
• Partner with Planning to use MMPR as a tool to maximize opportunitiesand mitigate risks at the department level and owning the investment across theassortment
• Approach departmental strategy with an innovative and globalperspective, leveraging other departments and cross-functional areas tomaximize brand potential
• Build operational efficiencies

• Ensure marketed/mailer messages reflect big ideas
• Partner with Visual to ensure store set reflects big ideas and key itemshave dominant placement

• Focus on developing and driving strategies across cross-functional team
• Ensure department strategies sync with division strategies; Developlonger term department strategies (annual vision); Lead the CFT in executing tostrategies by providing overall context and vision and ensuring alignment
• Integrate the bigger company and retail landscape into departmentstrategies
• Responsible for framework strategy in partnership with Design; Identifyopportunities for growth/decline by classification; Ensure assortment supportsdepartment and brand strategies; Ensure balance across all attributes
• Confirm style and aps ranking and ensure it maps back to overalldepartment strategy.
• Analyze broader competitive information and make recommendations tomanager on how to integrate information into business; Articulate businessimpact and interpret/anticipate the competition's tactics through observationof their in-season trends, utilization of retail space, co-branding, etc
• Work in stores once a quarter; Share observations at Merchant staffmeetings; Use information to inform business and product decisions; Representclient in all fittings
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of competitive pricing and positioning;Drive retail and promotional strategies to ensure business plans are realized

• Lead the CFT to drive results at the department level; Provide timelydirection and clear communication to all CFT members.
• Build relationships through effective collaboration that contributes toa high performing team; Participate as a solution-oriented team member;Cultivate effective partnerships
• Cultivate talent and lead by example; Clearly communicate expectationsand implications; Get things done through others by delegating effectively;Take ownership for direct team and the business; Filter the high points fromthe details; Train future leaders; Manage up, down, and across with results

• BA or equivalent, 5-7 years’ experience in Merchandising
• Strong leadership abilities and ability to influence others acrossfunctions
• Strong decision making capabilities; strong point of view andnegotiation skills
• Strong analytical skills and clear understanding of financialmeasurements and how to impact them
• Ability to take analysis into action, execute to timelines and providetimely solutions
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrate the organizational ability to facilitate multi-tasking in afast-pace environment
• Strong fashion sense with a sense of brand and client needs
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Applications