Retail Merchandise Manager

Responsibilities

• Mercanting and Buying: Responsible for the analysis of the Harvard emblematic business, ensuring optimized product flow, placement, and sell through.
• Create an assortment plan in partnership with buying and planning teams. Optimize space allocation and merchandising of the Harvard Coop bookstore.
• Strategic Partner Collaboration: Collaborate with strategic partners on Harvard event strategies, product lines, product flow, vendors and markdown strategies.
• Cook with strategic partners to bring visions to life in stores and ensure success.
• Operational and Inventory Management: Manage an “open to buy” budget, both singularly and in collaboration with strategic partners, tracking and planning the purchase of inventory within financial limits.
• Partner with other functions to manage inventory effectively.
• Support Vendor Installation Projects to ensure functionality and marketing collateral correctly supports the product to drive sales.
• Sales Analysis and Strategy: Tracks and reviews sales to provide analysis for increased sales opportunities, improve margins, manage inventories, and decrease markdowns.
• Work with the Planning team on product sales analysis to understand performance and suggest adjustments to positioning and marketing strategies.
• Project Coordination and Communication: Assist in managing and setting up processes for Retail Initiatives specifically for the Harvard Coop bookstore.
• Work closely under the supervision of senior staff with BNC’s Merchandise, Design & Construction, Store Operations, and Marketing teams.
• Afford to coordinate timelines and resolve issues across various functional groups for each project, including Construction, Marketing, and Merchandising.
• Advertising and Merchandise Presentation: May participate in plans for ad campaigns and merchandise presentations, ensuring alignment with overall marketing and retail strategies.
• Team Collaboration and Independence: Works independently and handles complex issues while ensuring effective collaboration and communication across teams.
• Store Operations Excellence: Support store operations and departments in partnership with the management team.
• Maintain a working knowledge of all departments in the store to provide daily support, direction, and guidance to customers and team members to ensure compliance with all standards of operation.
• Maintain a sales floor with visual excellence representing the Harvard Coop and the BNC standards provided.

Qualifications

• At least 4+ years of experience in buying and merchandising in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Bachelor's degree in business administration, Marketing, Merchandising, or a related field is preferred, but not required.
• Demonstrated ability to drive results and maintain operational excellence in complex business settings.
• Strong critical thinking skills and a high level of initiative with a passion for process improvement.
• Comprehensive knowledge of retail math and strong analytical abilities.
• Proven negotiation skills with external vendors, including managing costs, markdowns, return to vendor (RTV), and rebate agreements.
• Excellent team player with clear communication skills, strong relationship-building capabilities, and leadership qualities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office software, including intermediate to advanced Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; capable of quickly learning and applying new company systems and tools.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.