Director-Category Management, High Jewelry

General Summary

The Director of Category Management is responsible for all product management for the category. This individual will develop category merchandising strategies that deliver to grow the business, increase inventory productivity, and meet margin objectives. This individual will lead a team to manage the High Jewelry product portfolio (Blue Book, Jean Schlumberger High Jewelry, and repeatable collections) achieving pricing, and direct margin objectives. This individual will drive alignment of 360 strategic and operational objectives, communicate on appropriate departments cross-functionally and will support cross-category special project reporting and analysis.

Key Accountabilities

Assortment Analysis and Lifecycle Management

• Lead the category merchants to analyze, develop, and maintain productive worldwide High Jewelry offer and event collections.
• Execute key product initiative and assortment plans that meet sales, SKU productivity and gross margin objectives. Provide strategic direction for Obsolescence management.
• Demonstrate consumer & shopper understanding.
• Analyze the category competitive landscape to inform i) category strategic and executional plans that enable market share growth and ii) event collection and stock pricing strategies.
• Deliver data based strategic solutions to business issues and challenges that are presented on a day-to-day basis through exceptional business analytics.
• Develop, communicate, and present a high-level view of departmental strategies and new product introductions as needed and support vice president with senior management reporting and communication.

Pricing

• Direct and implement direct margin reviews and pricing strategies, for new and existing product to ensure margin requirements are achieved.
• Direct analysis that provides relational pricing and market evaluations.
• Manage price change analysis, execute, and communicate and assist staff in resolution of pricing errors or discrepancies.

New product planning

• Responsibilities include providing scope and direction for event collection development and stock assortment expansion in partnership with Vice President to drive strategic category growth.
• Analyze trend and departmental reports, engage in regular competitive reviews, and make proposals for assortment additions or changes.
• Create comprehensive design briefs for new product design needs aligned with strategic objectives.
• Establish, monitor, and meet project milestones and develop project plan and work breakdown based on shifting priorities. They will manage communication flow of new product and assortment lifecycle planning strategies with cross-functional counterparts, ensuring 360 planning and execution.

Cross-Functional Planning & Collaboration

The Director will build strong cross-functional relationships to drive category objectives and execution strategies. Partner with Product Development, Design, Commercial, Supply, Industrial, JDIW, Brand, Regions, Legal, and other teams to communicate, plan and execute 360 strategies to support category objectives. This individual will partner with Vice President on presentations with senior management to highlight key strategies and initiatives as well as contribute to product communications as needed.

Cross-Category Special Projects and Reporting

The Director will support the development of cross-category analysis and reporting for strategic initiatives including product strategy presentations, sales reporting, competitive studies, and assortment analysis.

Staff Management

This individual will also develop management and professional staff to be effective, self-started, and results-driven. They will drive alignment of strategic and operational objectives and their communication through appropriate departments as well as encourage groups to be full partners with their colleagues throughout the organization.

The director will support the Vice President with the execution of departmental and cross-function initiatives and ensure staff integration of new processes and applications.

Qualifications/Primary Job Requirements

• The qualified candidate will have 8+ years merchandising experience with expertise in jewelry.
• They will have an overall knowledge/experience of retail business practices, proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) with adaptability to new software, strong analytical skills, ability to think strategically – then implement steps to achieve goals.
• The director must have excellent leadership, organizational, communication and written skills, ability to be flexible and adapt to changing priorities, strong interpersonal skills and diplomatic. They must have strong negotiating skills and demonstrated ability to lead and develop staff. Undergraduate degree from an accredited University.
• Preferred qualifications include knowledge of Tiffany & Co. product offerings specific to High Jewelry, jewelry background, knowledge of gross margin and turn calculations and knowledge of core merchandising functions.

The hiring range for this position ranges from $144,670- $204,240. The rate of pay offered will be dependent upon candidates’ relevant skills and experience. Management is also eligible for bonus.