Sr. Director, Merchandising Business Intelligence

Overview

This position has a direct correlation to, and impact on: Sales, Margin, and Inventory health. The Senior Director of Merchandising Business Intelligence manages a team of Sr. Managers, Managers and analysts responsible for the strategic design, development, implementation and ongoing support of reporting, analysis/business insights, planning tools and processes as well as test and measurement protocols for company tests and initiatives. The position has direct responsibility for ensuring tests are designed, implemented and measured accurately to ensure ROI on all major initiatives developed for the retail stores as well as the BSD channel. In addition to corporate level reporting, this position is also responsible for category and marketplace data gathering, assessment, and recommendations for change across all product categories and channels. Additionally, the position requires frequent collaboration with the corporate Information Technology department for complex discussions to identify optimized and flexible technical solutions to meet ongoing business requirements. The associate in this role must be able to understand and evaluate both legacy information technology systems as well as be versed in new ERP and leading-edge solutions. A strong mix of highly technical skills and business experience is required as this position is also responsible for developing and overseeing corporate wide distribution of complex reporting and analytics, key reporting to Executives and collaboration with various functional areas to ensure data integrity and visibility. Expertise in technical data gathering inclusive of SQL, and other complex methodologies plus creative use of business intelligence tools and principles is required along with sound business acumen that provides the basis for go/no go decisions impacting sales and GMROI. Must have 7 to 10 years of experience and be an experienced practitioner of Merchandising principles within a multi-channel retail environment. The person in this position must be able to work within a matrix organization and influence decisions outside their reporting structure and above their level (influencing and interacting with the Executive level within the corporation). Experience in merchandising, retail stores or distribution centers preferable. Position will have 5 to 6 direct reports with an extended reporting structure of an additional 3 to 4 individuals. Works closely with Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Executive Vice Presidents and provides critical information to the Executive Committee.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Strategic Reporting leveraging Multiple Toolsets: Designs, develops and implements effective and actionable reporting solutions focused on projects of strategic importance to Office Depot and with direct impact on the financial performance of the company. Works collaboratively with senior leadership in various functional areas to implement comprehensive and automated solutions enabling rapid business benefits at the least cost to execute. Responsible for the day-to-day management and accuracy of implemented reporting tools used throughout the organization and provided to the highest level Executives within the company.
• Management and ownership of the Test and measurement function for NA Retail and BSD channels: Owns establishment and maintenance of optimal test and measurement methodologies, tactics and oversight of active tests. Responsible for strategic assessment of the toolsets and processes and leads efforts with IT, software vendors and cross-functional constituencies to maximize business value received.
• Management of merchandising planning tools including ongoing support and training: Provide both strategic and tactical support of merchandising planning tools to ensure they meet the ongoing needs of the merchandising planning process.
• Support of various strategic ad-hoc needs throughout the NA Retail & BSD organizations:  Ongoing leadership and guidance supporting various initiatives where wide-ranging knowledge and experience can be leveraged. Responsible for reacting quickly to multiple requests for various levels and departments with the company and for prioritization of those requests.
• Management and support of end-user training and change management associated to the various tools and processes: Designs, develops and implements a wide range of support and training solutions to ensure implemented toolsets can be leveraged effectively. With a broad range of experience and skills, able to effectively support core functional areas and quickly learn, internalize and train other areas in the company as well.
• Liaison between various IT groups and business constituencies: Responsible for determining and implementing the most efficient and beneficial approaches to ensure business requirements are met with IT technical solutions. Critical to this are a complete understanding of both the business and IT processes and how to most effectively bridge the two. Ability to work with limited resources and rapid implementation goals to drive collective teams to desired outcomes with the least risk and cost.
• Core business leader of BICC (business intelligence competency center) implementation: Best practice implementations of data warehouse/business intelligence tools achieve data governance strategies along with cross-functional leverage of skill-sets and experience. As a core business leader of the BICC, works as a champion to ensure various functional areas in the company leverage BI tools to their fullest and with consistency. Office Depot's BICC is in its infancy (and toolsets are new as well) making a focus on BICC principles and actions critical to ongoing success.
• Line Review Process: Operational and real-time analytical support during vendor assortment negotiations. Responsible for post-implementation measurement and identification of root cause of any variances to expected results.
• Category Management and Marketplace data analysis: This area is responsible for data gathering and analysis of marketplace channel and product information. Responsible for analysis and development of comprehensive and actionable cross channel assortment recommendations.

Qualifications:

• Masters Degree in Business, Marketing, Information Technology, Mathematics with training in Statistics, Merchandising/Category Management
• 10+ years of relevant experience/training
• Technical Skills:
  • COGNOS Advanced skillset required
  • Strong technical knowledge of data warehouse methodologies (specifically Teradata)
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel/MS Access and strong PowerPoint skills
  • Working knowledge of APT application
  • Working knowledge of MFP (TopPlan)
  • Working knowledge of NPD
  • Working knowledge of SQL/MDX

• Strong negotiation skills (internal and external)
• Training design and development (large and small groups)
• Understanding of and experience implementing large scale system implementation project
• Superior analytics with the ability to successfully manage, navigate, and influence across organizational boundaries. Successful in managing diverse skill sets. Ability to take a business issue/opportunity and develop appropriate, creative and logical approaches.
• Proven communication skills including: verbal, written and presentation skills.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by associates assigned to this classification and are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of associates so classified. Other duties may be assigned.

Pay, Benefits & Work Schedule

The company offers competitive salaries, a benefits package, which includes a 401(k) and more, along with plenty of opportunity to move and grow within our organization! For immediate consideration for this exciting position, please click the Apply Now button.

How to Apply

Click the Apply Now button and follow the instructions on each page. When you have completed the application, click the submit button.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities in all employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, age, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records City & County of San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.