Why Work for Us?
The Michaels Companies, Inc., is North Americaâs largest arts and crafts specialty retailer. Together the teams in our stores, distribution and manufacturing centers, and support center work together to help our customers make creativity happen. We offer career growth, benefits packages, retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, and more. Michaels Team Members also enjoy a wide variety of ways to save including discounts at our stores, select fitness and childcare centers, restaurants, hotels, and more.
We are currently recruiting for a Category Director located in our Support Center (Global Headquarters) located in Irving, TX.
What will you be doing?
Under the direction of a Business Unit General Manager/GMM the Category Director is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to drive sales and profitability of assigned categories. A Category Director is expected to directly lead the cross-functional team and is accountable for the financial results. The Category Director leverages consumer insights, selection, newness, product development, merchandise presentation, advertising and promotions to get results, based on the individual category roles of their area of responsibility.
How will you do it?
Manage assortment, determining optimal product mix based on category goals, performance, and designated category roles.
Drive a compelling assortment through applying knowledge of the consumer and sense for product.
Lead vendors based on consumer and market insights and leverage the partnership to develop the right product.
Optimize advertising, pricing, and promotion strategies.
Apply analytical insight to leverage concepts such as âsales treeâ, affinity, elasticity, etc. to the advertising process.
Develop strategic category plans using market insights, consumer insights, competitive insights, and internal analysis.
Maximize merchandise presentation by developing planograms and leading a cross-functional team through the complex implementation process.
Develop planograms using merchandising strategies, competitive analysis, product trends / space allocation, financial analysis, and consumer-decision-trees.
Leverage private brand development /sourcing opportunities determining the optimal assortment and executing vendor strategy.
Lead the team in establishing the correct product vision for private brand assortments.
Balance private brand opportunities against established vendor-provided programs.
Collaboratively determine with Director Product Development & Product Manager which assortment segments will participate in trend.
Communicate strategic product development needs to Product Manager.
Issue Commitment Letters, if needed, prior to issuing purchase orders.
Partner with inventory management to maximize return on inventory investment based on sales plans, category roles, and trends.
Accountable for managing inventory levels to support EBITDA objectives and sales objectives.
Lead organizational development/change management.
Other duties as assigned
Job Requirements:
What Skills you will need to do your job?
BA/BS college degree
Minimum of 5 years of merchandising experience exhibiting progressively responsible assignments. Must be able to successfully lead a category team and drive desired business results
Experience using consumer insights, competitive assessment, pricing, promotional planning, assortment planning, space management, logistical costs, vendor management and financial analysis to establish strategic direction for an assigned product category and to manage the execution of this strategy
Previous training and experience in category management and use of consumer insights is a valued additional skill
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