The Director of Merchandising & Planning is responsible for leading the regional product strategy and inventory management to drive long-term brand positioning, quality growth, and financial health across EMEA. This role acts as the strategic link between global product teams and local markets, curating the global product lines into categories, product mix, assortments and business planning that meet regional consumer needs and address market opportunities. This role partners with Marketplace, Marketing and Logistics teams to achieve a healthy product availability in the marketplace and that the right product is in the right place at the right time. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team EMEA, this role transcends functional responsibilities and collaborates with the ELT on leading the organizations EMEA business. This role is accountable for building high level strategy in collaboration with ELT and implementation with key stakeholders as well as taking strategic and tactical decisions for the organizations EMEA business as needed.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead and develop a high-performing merchandising and planning organization through regular coaching and mentoring, clear goal-setting, feedback, and fostering cross-functional collaboration to drive EMEA business objectives and build organizational capabilities that support long-term growth.
- Lead the creation and execution of the EMEA merchandising and planning strategy, aligned with global product and brand direction, consumer and industry insights, and regional market dynamics to drive regional brand positioning and revenue and margin goals
- Own the seasonal line planning, range architecture, and category curation for channels and countries in EMEA, ensuring product assortments meet local consumer needs and shaping our positioning and presence in the marketplace with complementary approaches by channel
- Oversee demand planning in partnership with Marketplace and Operational teams to ensure accurate forecasts, optimal inventory levels, and timely product availability across EMEA
- Partner with Finance and Marketplace teams to meet revenue, margin, and sell-through goals through aligning targets, pricing and buying choices, SKU optimization, allocation decisions etc.
- Act as a key liaison between the EMEA team and global HQ teams (U.S.), ensuring regional needs are represented in global line planning, business planning, and facilitating alignment as needed
- Actively participate in the EMEA leadership team, shaping the long term EMEA strategy and vision for the future, fostering cross-functional alignment and collaboration, and driving key business decisions to support responsible business, financial health, culture, and organizational priorities.
SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
- Advanced leadership capabilities in team management and development, driving results by empowerment, ongoing feedback, and coaching
- Strong collaboration and co-creation mindset and skills
- Proven ability to navigate disagreements and facilitate convergence and decision-making
- Proven ability to influence critical business outcomes in a matrix environment
- Strategic and forward-thing skills to shape what the future should look like
- Humility, empathy, and courage
- Strong merchandising knowledge and experience to drive MFP, product lines, and assortments strategies and choices
- Track record of executing seasonal planning and GTM at high standards
- Strong financial acumen, with command of pricing, margin management, and profitability levers
- Strong analytical skills and understanding of forecasting, supply chain dynamics, and inventory optimization
- Demonstrated understanding of outdoor industry products, consumers, distribution, and specifically the organizations.
- Strong connection to the organizations mission statement and values
LOCATION
This role is based in Amsterdam.
