SVP Merchandising & Planning - Emblematic - Westchester, IL

Position Overview

Follett Higher Education is a leading educational service provider and omnichannel retailer, providing students, faculty, staff, parents, and fans with the course materials, learning tools, and retail services needed to successfully support the collegiate journey. Follett Higher Education supports over 6 million students through its 1,100 physical and 1,750 eCommerce campus stores across North America.

The Senior Vice President (SVP) of Merchandising & Planning - Emblematic will lead the strategy, performance, and evolution of our General Merchandise emblematic product business. This leader will own the full emblematic P&L, driving omni-channel revenue and margin growth.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Own and lead emblematic merchandising & planning strategy and performance.
• Assortments by School: Responsible for best-in-class assortments, private brand/product development, vendor negotiation, pricing, and financial/assortment/location planning activity in emblematic departments.
• Team Leadership: Lead emblematic merchandising & planning teams in communicating strategies, goals, and objectives to deliver strategic organizational business plans. Direct goal setting, performance feedback, measurement, and assessment of the team.
• Financial & Operational Excellence: Owns emblematic monthly sales, margin, and inventory turnover results and forecasting.

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent.
• 10+ years of leadership experience in merchandise sourcing/vendor management, product development, financial/merchandise planning, assortment planning, location planning, and inventory management.
• Must have experience owning P&L performance, including sales, margin, and inventory.
• Must have experience successfully collaborating across functions in a retail environment.
• Experience in collegiate/professional licensed and/or athletics space strongly preferred.
• Strong negotiation, financial, and strategic planning skills.
• Strong track record of talent development and performance management.
• 10%-50% travel.