Merchandising Manager Strat Accounts / Wholesale

VANS EMEA is looking for an exceptional Manager, Merchandising Footwear Men's to join our Merchandising team based in Stabio, Switzerland.

Vans® is the original action sports footwear company, rooted in authenticity and creativity. Founded in 1966, we have thrived on a legacy of impacting our greater community through four pillars: action sports, music, art and street culture.

Let’s Talk about the Role

You as the Manager, Merchandising Footwear Men's will drive toward our ambition to be the leading brand representing progressive skate and youth culture.

You will own the strategic and executional, merchandising and Go-to-Market deliverables of the Men's Footwear categories for the EMEA line while creating global influence, alignment and partnership.

You will lead a team of Merchandisers to bring to life a market-relevant, profitable and successful range that represents progressing youth culture forward. Your exceptional knowledge of the competitive landscape, taste-level, knowledge of the wholesale marketplace and Go-to-Market process will inspire both internal teams, our customers and our consumer.

How You Will Make a Difference

You will achieve this by:

• Executes the global merchandising strategy through regional marketplace strategy. Ensures alignment with regional market dynamics and consumer preferences. Adapts and tailors global product assortments to meet regional needs while maintaining brand consistency and commercial success. Defines white space opportunities across wholesale channels and accounts in their respective category and marketplace responsibility.

• Curate assortments for our strategic wholesale partners by selecting product with demand driving attribute and partnering with the commercial teams to build plans and influence adoption externally.

• Partner continuously with WHSL planning counterparts to create revenue-driving and profitable assortments.

• Own and drive seasonal strategy, line architecture and pricing for your respective areas

• Actively participate in in-season management, driving the right sales analysis and action-oriented next steps for immediate trading as well as future seasons.

• Continuously monitor and react to marketplace trends, keeping connected to competitive landscape and market dynamics.

• Ensuring regional channel needs are covered through the product line by identifying white spaces and bringing the right briefs forward.

Skills for Success

In order to effectively drive these key deliverables, you will use your:

• EMEA Wholesale Marketplace experience/knowledge

• Ability to apply merchandising acumen and principles in partnership with merchandise planning

• Ability to excel in and understand the external marketplace environment with comfort level in facilitating account meetings, customer communication, pitching and negotiating for brand and assortment strategies.

• Decision-making ability on segmentation and product choices by channel, tier and account

• Ability to develop and analyze retail reports, derive key take-aways and create action-oriented steps to improve business performance

• Understanding of competitive landscape, trends in Women’s and Kid’s footwear

What’s in it For You

We’re in the business of unleashing human potential, driven by the ideas, energy and commitment of our people. That’s why we offer comprehensive benefits that encourage mental, physical and financial well-being for all VF associates. When it comes to benefits, we’re the total package.

• A supportive feedback-based culture where respect and integrity guide us in what we do

• An inclusive international environment where people of diverse backgrounds, lifestyles and nationalities love working together

• Be part of an iconic lifestyle brand in a multi brand, multi countries organization

• On site gym offering health and well-being initiatives

• A discount card with 50% on all VF brands

• Break out areas offering complimentary hot drinks

Free to Be, Inclusion & Belonging

As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to foster a culture of belonging based on respect, connection, openness and authenticity. We are committed to building and maintaining a workplace that celebrates the diversity of our associates, allowing them to bring their authentic selves to work every day.

If you like what you have read and want to join our team then we would like to hear from you!