Director - Category Management - SalonCentric
L'Oreal Group, Clearwater, FL, United States
Position
Director, Category Management
Department Category Management
Reports To VP, Category Management
Location National Operating Center, Clearwater, FL
Summary The Director, Category Management is a strategic leadership role guiding the vision and execution of a portfolio of brands and/or category of business within the professional beauty market. This role manages the end-to-end lifecycle, encompassing strategic go-to-market planning and the cultivation of strong market positioning for their business.
The ideal candidate is a visionary leader with executive presence who is able to navigate complex coordination within a matrixed environment. This role requires seamless collaboration with cross-functional teams—including Supply Chain, Marketing, and Finance—to execute a comprehensive merchandising strategy across stores, commercial sales, and E-Commerce.
Key Responsibilities Strategic Merchandising & Brand Development
Strong Brand Partnerships are a priority!
Category Leadership: Champion a multi-year strategic vision for assigned category of business and/or portfolio of brands.
Assess portfolio white space and develop line architecture to support the evolving needs of the professional.
Launch & Market Strategy: Drive high-impact brand launches. Lead in-depth analysis of global trends and translate insights into actionable sales strategies.
Financial Performance: Achieve ambitious sales, profit, and inventory turnover goals through meticulous forecasting and data-driven promotional planning.
Lifecycle Management: Formulate strategic exit strategies for underperforming items to optimize portfolio health and resource allocation.
Leadership & People Management
Plan and Lead milestone meetings for the department.
Lead and develop a team of merchants aligned to shared goals and metrics.
Influence and inspire cross-functional teams to execute against strategic vision to deliver sales goals.
Operational Leadership: Model a culture of accountability and excellence, establishing clear priorities to meet channel goals related to sales, inventory, and productivity.
Operational Excellence
Policy & Financial Oversight: Ensure strict adherence to company standards regarding inventory control and loss prevention. Conduct deep-dive financial reviews to strategically react to business trends.
Continuous Improvement: Drive the adoption of cutting-edge technology and process innovations to enhance departmental efficiency.
Strategic Engagement: Conduct regular field visits and store audits to ensure consistent brand representation and gather market insights.
Job Qualifications Education
Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field required; MBA highly preferred.
Experience
8-10+ years of progressive leadership in retail management, merchandising, or brand development.
Financial Acumen: Proven success in large-scale P&L management, budget oversight, and driving top-line sales growth.
People Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead large teams through organizational change and influence executive-level stakeholders.
Negotiation: Extensive experience leading high-stakes contract negotiations with major partners.
Industry Knowledge: Experience in beauty, cosmetics, or professional salon industries is highly desirable.
Skills & Competencies
Executive Presence: Ability to inspire confidence and influence senior leaders across a matrixed organization.
Strategic Thinking: Superior ability to analyze complex data and formulate bold decisions that drive market leadership.
Communication: Exceptional presentation skills with the ability to articulate complex narratives to large audiences and executive boards.
Problem Solving: Advanced capability to address ambiguous challenges with data-driven, innovative solutions.
Technological Proficiency: Advanced skills in ERP systems, CRM, and analytics tools (Microsoft Office Suite).
What's In It For You
Competitive Benefit Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K)
Hybrid Work Policy (3 Days in Office, 2 Days Work from Home)
Flexible Time Off (Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Vacation Buy Program, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!)
Access to Company Perks (VIP Access to L'Oréal's Internal Shop for Discounted Products, Monthly Mobile Allowance)
Learning & Development Opportunities for Career Progression (Unlimited Access to E-learnings, Lunch & Learn Sessions, Mentorship Programs, & More!)
Employee Resource Groups (Think Tanks and Innovation Squads)
Access to Mental Health & Wellness Programs
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Department Category Management
Reports To VP, Category Management
Location National Operating Center, Clearwater, FL
Summary The Director, Category Management is a strategic leadership role guiding the vision and execution of a portfolio of brands and/or category of business within the professional beauty market. This role manages the end-to-end lifecycle, encompassing strategic go-to-market planning and the cultivation of strong market positioning for their business.
The ideal candidate is a visionary leader with executive presence who is able to navigate complex coordination within a matrixed environment. This role requires seamless collaboration with cross-functional teams—including Supply Chain, Marketing, and Finance—to execute a comprehensive merchandising strategy across stores, commercial sales, and E-Commerce.
Key Responsibilities Strategic Merchandising & Brand Development
Strong Brand Partnerships are a priority!
Category Leadership: Champion a multi-year strategic vision for assigned category of business and/or portfolio of brands.
Assess portfolio white space and develop line architecture to support the evolving needs of the professional.
Launch & Market Strategy: Drive high-impact brand launches. Lead in-depth analysis of global trends and translate insights into actionable sales strategies.
Financial Performance: Achieve ambitious sales, profit, and inventory turnover goals through meticulous forecasting and data-driven promotional planning.
Lifecycle Management: Formulate strategic exit strategies for underperforming items to optimize portfolio health and resource allocation.
Leadership & People Management
Plan and Lead milestone meetings for the department.
Lead and develop a team of merchants aligned to shared goals and metrics.
Influence and inspire cross-functional teams to execute against strategic vision to deliver sales goals.
Operational Leadership: Model a culture of accountability and excellence, establishing clear priorities to meet channel goals related to sales, inventory, and productivity.
Operational Excellence
Policy & Financial Oversight: Ensure strict adherence to company standards regarding inventory control and loss prevention. Conduct deep-dive financial reviews to strategically react to business trends.
Continuous Improvement: Drive the adoption of cutting-edge technology and process innovations to enhance departmental efficiency.
Strategic Engagement: Conduct regular field visits and store audits to ensure consistent brand representation and gather market insights.
Job Qualifications Education
Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field required; MBA highly preferred.
Experience
8-10+ years of progressive leadership in retail management, merchandising, or brand development.
Financial Acumen: Proven success in large-scale P&L management, budget oversight, and driving top-line sales growth.
People Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead large teams through organizational change and influence executive-level stakeholders.
Negotiation: Extensive experience leading high-stakes contract negotiations with major partners.
Industry Knowledge: Experience in beauty, cosmetics, or professional salon industries is highly desirable.
Skills & Competencies
Executive Presence: Ability to inspire confidence and influence senior leaders across a matrixed organization.
Strategic Thinking: Superior ability to analyze complex data and formulate bold decisions that drive market leadership.
Communication: Exceptional presentation skills with the ability to articulate complex narratives to large audiences and executive boards.
Problem Solving: Advanced capability to address ambiguous challenges with data-driven, innovative solutions.
Technological Proficiency: Advanced skills in ERP systems, CRM, and analytics tools (Microsoft Office Suite).
What's In It For You
Competitive Benefit Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K)
Hybrid Work Policy (3 Days in Office, 2 Days Work from Home)
Flexible Time Off (Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Vacation Buy Program, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!)
Access to Company Perks (VIP Access to L'Oréal's Internal Shop for Discounted Products, Monthly Mobile Allowance)
Learning & Development Opportunities for Career Progression (Unlimited Access to E-learnings, Lunch & Learn Sessions, Mentorship Programs, & More!)
Employee Resource Groups (Think Tanks and Innovation Squads)
Access to Mental Health & Wellness Programs
#J-18808-Ljbffr