Leading Specialty Retailer with targeted growth in their Intimate Apparel division is seeking an experienced DMM to build the brand.          

Basic Responsibilities:

         Develops and executes the division's product strategy to drive the Brand to achieve Sales and Profit.

         Leads, coaches, and develops associates to achieve financial objectives and prepares them for broader responsibilities.

Specific Responsibilities:

         Divisional Positioning

       Develops strategic long-range vision of the division IA integrating customer insight, competitive information, market intelligence, promotional cadence, seasonal/annual business plans and competitive advantage with a directed focus on the company's future strategy.

       Synthesizes departments' strategies within the division strategy and partners to align other divisions.

       Executes strategic role of the division.

         People

       Leads by example; Lives the values of the Brand:

       Leads and partners with the Teams to deliver sales and profits; ensures cross-functional teamwork, collaboration and execution.

       Takes accountability to develop associates to exceed performance objectives and results, overcome weaknesses and leverage their strengths.

       Develops and implements retention strategies to retain top talent.

       Provides timely performance feedback to associates and when necessary makes tough decisions regarding exit strategies.

         Positioning

Business Line Planning

Leads the buyers through the following:

       Development of strategic vision of department integrating customer insight, competitive information, market intelligence, sales and fashion trends, fashion intuition and product distortion to maximize sales and profit.

       Identification of key categories/items/departments and the distortion to focus on driving newness and, fashion penetration. 

       In season, reactions to current business trends; ensuring the integration of fashion newness, development upside strategies, recognition of product evolution and potential voids; preparation of contingency plans to drive sales and profit objectives.

Intelligence: Customer/Market/Competitor

      Leads the buyers through the following:

       Understanding the customer research and anticipating what the customer wants next; using information from store visits in decision making and planning process.

       Patterning competitors and fashion leaders and understands how they are projecting their brand

       Collection of market/vendor information and integration into the development of the strategic vision and the future selection of product.

       Synthesis of information from customer research, store visits, competitors, fashion leaders, and the markets and vendors and determination of the relevancy to the brand strategy.

Business Management

      Leads the buyers through the following:

       Pre-seasonally, partnering with planning and allocation around sales forecasting /planning, promotional cadence, flow order, color/size buys, minimum /maximum quantities, etc.

       Delivering of superior performance by reviewing business in-season to maximize sales and profit; the in-season management of sales and profits in partnership with Planning & Allocation Teams.

         Product

Product Development

     Leads the buyers through the following:

       Partnering with design to move product categories to next and to bring a customer and market perspective to the product development process.

       Collaboration with Design in fabric development and selection.

       Selection of fashion styles that fit and flatter multiple body types, offering diverse styling, and are customer intimate.

       Ensuring the final assortments are integrated with the Design Concept and the Product Strategy.

Sourcing and Production

     Leads the buyers through the following:

       Strategically reviewing the Sourcing Matrix; looking at vendor commitments/results and understanding the affect of decisions on long term partnerships.

       Consideration of the variables to manufacturing the product; making of decisions to insure the cost, retail price, margin, quality, capacity or delivery date of a garment to meet the business needs.

       Communication of expectations to vendors, holding them accountable for the execution and results of production; providing commitments to vendors to minimize capacity and production problems.

       Development and management of time/action calendars to ensure on time delivery; understanding work in progress or status of production; minimizing risks/liabilities and maximizing profitable opportunities.

Experience:

       10+ years' experience in intimate apparel buying positions (with upper management experience) for leading retailers.

       Strong sourcing experience and/or working and establishing business relationships with vendors

       Understands Brand-has worked with a fashion brand.

       A college degree emphasizing business skills.

       A successful track record and a reputation of exceeding performance expectations.