Director, Casual & Fashion

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At Zappos, we look for people who will show up as their whole self because we value diversity and inclusion, as well as people who enjoy fun and maybe even a little weirdness. So be sure to check on whether you’re aligned with our company values and culture. If you think you can see yourself delivering WOW as a member of the Zappos family, then check out the job description below!

Company Culture is at Our Core

Our 10 Core Values are more than just words, they're a way of life. We know that companies with a strong culture & a higher purpose perform better in the long run. 
Do our values speak to you?

1. Deliver WOW Through Service
2. Embrace and Drive Change
3. Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
4. Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
5. Pursue Growth and Learning
6. Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
7. Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
8. Do More With Less
9. Be Passionate and Determined
10. Be Humble

Company Perks: Quick Reference

• Zappos pays 100% of every employee’s medical, dental, and vision benefits.

• Zappos pays 100% of 12 therapy, mental health, or coaching session annually.

• A multitude of benefits and incentives to stay mentally and physically healthy and fit.

• Meaningful assistance programs like professional development, mentoring, and 401k with employer contribution.

• Paid time off for life, vacations, staycations, and rest.

• A generous Zapponian discount program.

• Make an impact through volunteer adventures and other community programs.

• Want to have some fun, too? Yes, please! Enjoy team building, family spirit, and plenty of room to recharge!

Zapponian [noun| employee of Zappos]. You are self-motivated. You think like an entrepreneur, constantly innovating and driving positive change, but more importantly, you consistently deliver mind-boggling results.

Bold [adjective| not afraid of anything]. A role at Zappos is an opportunity to be a part of something different. To go bold. We’re a company that isn’t afraid to take risks and question the status quo. Oh yeah, we like to have fun too.

Perks [noun| the good stuff you get for working hard]. Zappos pays 100% of your medical, dental and vision premiums. Primary care visits, dental exams, eye exams and generic prescriptions are all free. Plus matching 401k, life coaches, orthodontic benefits, and more. And don’t forget, an unlimited 40% Zappos.com discount.

1990s [noun| a decade we love, but no longer live in]. Old school cover letters are so 1990. Want to show us who you really are? Create a video cover letter. A flash mob, a comedic monologue… whatever showcases your passion for Zappos and the work you’d be doing! Videos are not required, but if you create it, we’ll watch it.

Scout [noun| you're a recruiter, too]. As a Zapponian, we’ll ask that you always keep your eye out for great talent to join our family. Consider yourself an extension of the recruiting team, scouting for the best people to grow our company.

Job Overview

The Merchandising Director is responsible for owning and championing their business unit including, but not limited to, overall strategic direction, stock level analysis and management, maintenance of products, overall vendor relationships, and profit analysis. The Merchandising Director also acts a cross-functional team leader and aids in establishing Merchandising standards and procedures.

Duties

• Overseeing a business unit within the Buying division of the organization based on global needs and the organization’s best interests
• Developing the overall strategy, priorities, and vision for the business unit
• Negotiating cost, terms, and dating with vendor executives
• Developing relationships with sister site(s) counterparts on behalf of the business unit
• Developing and cultivating healthy and collaborative partnerships with vendor executives
• Assessing MTD sales trends versus plans, published forecasts, and guidance
• Reviewing open-to-buy plan and monitoring worklists
• Assessing on-order to verify that purchase orders are meeting flow expectations
• Reviewing reports and analysis for vendor meetings and market appointments
• Assessing reports and supplier performance at business reviews
• Maintaining a current knowledge of product category trends, competitor behavior, and industry knowledge
• Traveling, when necessary, for market trade shows and vendor appointments in support of buyers
• Providing leadership, mentoring, training, developmental goals, and performance management to Buying team members

Required Competencies

Action Oriented: The ability to take practical steps to deal with a problem or situation.

• Enjoy working hard
• Full of energy for the things one sees as challenging
• Not fearful of acting with a minimum of planning
• Seizes more opportunities than others

Approachability: The ability to be welcoming and display openness to others.

• Is easy to talk to you
• Spends the extra effort to put others at ease
• Can be warm, pleasant, and gracious
• Is sensitive to and patient with the interpersonal anxieties of others
• Builds rapport well
• Is a good listener

Budget Allocation: The process of determining the maximum amount of funding designated to a team, division, or organization.

• Able to manage the overall budget and allocating resources down to divisions, teams, and/or individuals
• Capable of analyzing proposed budget plans and requests for funds
• Understands the process of approving or denying initial plan requests based on presently known data (e.g. not enough funds in the overall budget, deducing that the initiative does not align with the overall strategy, amount needs to be adjusted, etc.)
• Able to offer supporting strategic planning activities, including long range and annual planning and quarterly business reviews
• Capable of planning, developing, and managing central programs budget
• Capable of reviewing Bill of Materials with the line functions for accuracy and submitting all Purchase Orders based on verified inputs
• Capable of monitoring and auditing purchasing activities to ensure compliance and adherence to best practices in procurement activities
• Capable of compiling table of revenues and expenses to show current budget status, incorporating all of the allocated budgets within the cost center of focus
• Able to write justifications for over-run or under-run of budget estimates
• Capable of preparing charts and graphs with company approved software
• Capable of tabulating statistical data for presentation in miscellaneous budget reports
• Able to prepare financial statement showing profit and loss to present to reporting manager or Finance division

Buying - Subject Matter Expert: The process of acquiring inventory and overseeing this process from order creation to the item being available for customer purchase.

• Skilled in analyzing and evaluating buying processes
• Skilled in establishing buying best practices and standards

Comfort Around Higher Management: The ability to work and communicate with more senior colleagues.

• Can deal comfortably with more senior managers
• Can present to more senior managers without undue tension and nervousness
• Understands how senior managers think and work
• Can determine the best way to get things done with senior managers by talking their language and responding to their needs
• Can craft approaches likely to be seen as appropriate and positive

Compassion: The ability to be aware, understanding, and sensitive of an individual's emotions and/or experience.

• Genuinely cares about people
• Is concerned about other's work and non-work problems
• Is available and ready to help
• Is sympathetic to the plight of others not as fortunate
• Demonstrates real empathy with the joy and pains of others

Confronting Direct Reports: The ability to understand and control emotions while communicating clearly and appropriately and avoiding judgement.

• Deals with problem direct reports firmly and in a timely manner
• Doesn't allow problems to fester
• Regularly reviews performance and holds timely discussions
• Can make negative decisions when all others fail
• Deals effectively with troublemakers

Creativity: The ability to perceive the world in new ways, to find hidden patterns, to make connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena, and to generate solutions.

• Comes up with a lot of new and unique ideas
• Easily makes connections among previously unrelated notions
• Tends to be seen as original and value-added in brainstorming settings

Critical Thinking: The ability to think clearly and rationally to understand the logical connection between ideas.

• Has an inquisitive nature
• Works to be and remain well-informed
• Open-minded regarding different perspectives
• Flexible in considering alternative solutions
• Is fair when evaluating the opinions of others
• Open to revise views and/or solutions when warranted

Customer Focus: The ability to proactively strive to address customer concerns and needs.

• Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers
• Gets first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services
• Acts with customers in mind
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with internal and external customers and gains their trust and respect

Detail Oriented: The ability to focus on specific, intricate aspects of a task, project, or plan.

• Explores the topic or issue and the reasons behind it or related to is
• Proactively plans for correcting any issues
• Has a discerning eye

Developing Direct Reports and Others: The ability to cultivate leadership and grow people within the organization.

• Provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments
• Holds frequent development discussions
• Is aware of each person's career goals
• Constructs compelling development plans and executes them
• Pushes people to accept developmental moves
• Will take on those who need help and further development
• Cooperates with the developmental system in the organization
• Is a people builder

Enthusiasm: The ability to have an upbeat and cooperative attitude.

• Lives life fully, enjoys every moment, and lives in the present
• Exudes self-confidence
• Has access to an endless source of energy
• Is optimistic
• Dares to risk
• Inspires others

Ethics and Values: The ability to act within a reasoned set of principles.

• Adheres to an appropriate (for the setting) and effective set of core values and beliefs during both good and bad times
• Acts in line with set of core values and beliefs
• Rewards the right values and disapproves of others
• Practices what one preaches

Hiring and Staffing: The ability to find, evaluate, and establish a working relationship with future employees, interns, contractors, and consultants.

• Has a nose for talent
• Hires the best people available from inside or outside
• Is not afraid of selecting strong people
• Assembles talented staffs

Initiative: The ability to be sufficiently motivated to commence tasks, projects, and/or plans with little to no direction.

• Motivated by challenges
• Displays self-confidence
• Maintains their self-control and discipline
• Can make decisions independently or for a group
• Sets goals and concentrates on steps to achieve them

Integrity and Trust: The ability to act in the best interest of the team and/or organization while adhering to moral and ethical principles.

• Is widely trusted
• Is seen as a direct, truthful individual
• Can present the unvarnished truth in an appropriate and helpful manner
• Keeps confidences
• Admits mistakes
• Doesn’t misrepresent oneself for personal gain

Interpersonal Savvy: The ability to easily communicate and interact with other people, both individually and in groups.

• Relates well to all kinds of people - up, down, and sideways, inside, and outside the organization
• Builds appropriate rapport
• Builds constructive and effective relationships
• Uses diplomacy and tact
• Can defuse even high-tension situations comfortably

Learning on the Fly: The ability to quickly acquire knowledge while completing a task or process.

• Learns quickly when facing new problems
• A relentless and versatile learner
• Open to change
• Analyzes both successes and failures for clues to improvement
• Experiments and will try anything to find solutions
• Enjoys the challenge of unfamiliar tasks
• Quickly grasps the essence and the underlying structure of anything

Listening: The ability to actively understand information received.

• Practices attentive and active listening
• Has the patience to hear people out
• Can accurately restate the opinions of others even when one disagrees

Logical Thinking: The ability to think objectively based on the facts provided.

• Applies a systematic, sequential decision-making method
• Good at resolving puzzling situations
• Notices patterns where other people might not

Managerial Courage: The ability to face problems head on and making difficult decisions and taking responsibility for them.

• Doesn't hold back anything that needs to be said
• Provides current, direct, complete, and actionable positive and corrective feedback to others
• Let’s people know where they stand
• Faces up to people problems on any person or situation (not including direct reports) quickly and directly
• Is not afraid to take negative action when necessary

Managing and Measuring Work: The ability to establish clear goals and expectations, review progress, and provide timely feedback.

• Clearly assigns responsibility for tasks and decisions
• Sets clear objectives and measures
• Monitors process, progress, and results
• Designs feedback loops into the work

Merchandise and Assortment Planning - Subject Matter Expert: The process of selecting products to maximize sales and profit that take into consideration the financial objectives and seasonality of merchandise to ensure proper flow.

• Skilled in analyzing and evaluating merchandise and assortment planning processes
• Skilled in establishing merchandise and assortment planning best practices and standards

Multitasking: The ability to perform more than one task or activity over a short period of time.

• Ambitious to be as productive and accomplish as much as efficiently possible
• Able to maintain focus and discipline
• Able to differentiate between cortical and non-critical tasks

Office Productivity Software Utilization – Extensive Experience:  The knowledge and ability to work with word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation programs.

• Able to utilize word processing software to create and edit template and complex tables through the following techniques:
  • Work with sections, create templates, use styles, and customize them.
  • Create and format complex tables, and manage table data.
  • Create Mail Merges, sort and filter them.
  • Customize Toolbars.
  • Insert graphic elements.
  • Run and record Macros.
  • Create a Web Page based on a template and add hyperlinks.
• Able to utilize spreadsheet software to work with multiple worksheets, filter data, use integrate functions, and manipulate databases through the following techniques:
  • Create, modify, and format charts.
  • Use graphic objects to enhance worksheets and charts.
  • Filter data and manage a filtered list.
  • Perform multiple-level sorting, use sorting options, and design considerations.
  • Use mathematical, logical, statistical, and financial functions.
  • Group and dissociate data and perform interactive analysis.
  • Create and modify some Macro commands.
• Able to utilize presentation software to create and edit templates and add interactive functions to presentations through the following techniques:
  • Create a template and work with a Design template.
  • Work with graphics, animation and multimedia, inserting movies and sound.
  • Work with the Office Suite to create slides from an outline and send slides to Microsoft Word.
  • Customize PowerPoint toolbars and automate the slide production.
  • Use AutoCorrect and the Style Checker.
  • Build interactive presentations, using hyperlinks, creating interactive objects, working with Slide Show options, and using the Meeting Minder.
  • Explore online meetings and broadcast presentations.

Peer Relationships: The ability to maintain a friendly or pleasant disposition and connection with colleagues.

• Can quickly find common ground and solve problems for the good of all
• Can represent one's own interests and yet be fair to other groups
• Can solve problems with peers with a minimum of noise
• Is seen as a team player and is cooperative
• Easily gains trust and support of peers
• Encourages collaboration
• Can be candid with peers

Personal Learning: The ability to be aware of other's reactions and understand why they react the way they do to adapt to their needs.

• Picks up on the need to change personal, interpersonal, and managerial behavior quickly
• Watches others for their reactions to one's attempts to influence or perform, and adjusts
• Seeks feedback
• Is sensitive to changing personal demands and requirements and changes accordingly

Perspective: The ability to understand how aspects of a task/project/idea relate to each other and to the whole.

• Looks toward the broadest possible view of an issue/challenge
• Has broad-ranging personal and business interests and pursuits
• Can easily pose future scenarios
• Can think globally
• Can discuss multiple aspects and impacts of issues and project them into the future

Political Savvy: The ability to understand and utilize the dynamics of power, organization, and decision making to achieve an objective.

• Can maneuver through complex political situations effectively and quietly
• Is sensitive to how people and organizations function
• Anticipates where the land mines are and plans one's approach accordingly
• Views corporate politics as a necessary part of organizational life and works to adjust to that reality
• Is a maze-bright person

Pricing Fundamentals - Basic Understanding: The method of utilizing data to set the optimal price point for inventory items.

• Understands the difference between cost-based pricing and value-based pricing
• Possesses knowledge of the organization's current pricing strategy
• Understands how to pull historical pricing data from pricing system(s)
• Possesses knowledge of how to utilize the organization's current pricing system(s)
• Understands how pricing plays into volume, market share, and profitability
• Possess knowledge of the fundamentals of pricing relationships:
  • Demand Relationship
  • Revenue Relationship
  • Cost Relationship
  • Profitability Relationship
  • Supply Relationship
• Understands the different types of pricing strategies commonly used in business
  • Cost Plus
  • Price Taking
  • Skimming
  • Penetration
  • Segmentation
  • Bundling

Priority Setting: The ability to create an efficient order of tasks based on importance and/or urgency.

• Spends one's time and the time of others on what's important
• Quickly zeroes in on the critical few and puts the trivial aside
• Can quickly sense what will help or hinder accomplishing a goal
• Eliminates roadblocks
• Creates focus

Punctuality: The ability to fulfill an obligation before or at the expected, predesignated time.

• Gives themselves buffer time to complete a task
• Has realistic expectations
• Is organized

Retail Math - Subject Matter Expert: The process of utilizing equations and ratios to quantify selling performance.

• Skilled in analyzing and evaluating Retail Math processes
• Skilled in establishing Retail Math best practices and standards

Strategic Agility: The ability to look ahead towards a goal and make key, impactful decisions to reach it.

• Sees ahead clearly
• Can anticipate future  consequences and trends accurately
• Has broad knowledge and perspective
• Is future oriented
• Can articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods
• Can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans

Strategic Communication: The method of relaying specific messaging with the understanding that behaviors can be influenced by these communications.

• Capable of creating and delivering an effective and efficient communications campaign
• Able to identify the appropriate communications channel to deliver messaging
• Capable of reviewing specific considerations and special situations before communication delivery is made by others

Strategic Planning Acumen - Working Experience: The ability to leverage internal and external information to make thoughtful business decisions about the future of the organization quickly and successfully.

• Capable of seeing associations between seemingly independent problems or events to recognize trends, problems, and possible cause-effect relationships
• Able to develop business plans for ancillary services (e.g., sources of capital, core operations, etc.)
• Able to evaluate whether a proposed solution aligns with the organizational business plan
• Able to generate and consider extensive options for actions to achieve a long-range goal or vision
• Capable of identifying key tasks and resources needed to achieve objectives
• Able to guide others in developing decision criteria considering factors such as cost, benefits, risks, and timing

Strategy Development and Application: The creation and implementation of a high-level plan of action, policy, or guiding principles designed to achieve a major aim or influence decision-making patterns.

• Able to answer the questions: “Where are we going?” and “How are we going to get there?” and create a specific and purposeful path when there are clear answers to these two questions
• Able to create a strategy based on the organization’s core values, mission, and your vision
• Able to determine core competencies and strategic challenges
• Able to develop goals, objectives, and specific strategies to accomplish those goals
• Able to create priorities once objectives are determined
• Able to deploy action plans throughout the organization
• Able to establish a process for aligning day-to-day decisions to the strategic plan

Supporting and Training Staff: The process of improving employee performance by increasing the employee’s ability to perform through learning, changing the employee's attitude, or increasing the employee’s skills and knowledge.

• Possesses knowledge of the business or scope of the employee’s work
• Understands how to maximize company resources and build an efficient and productive workforce
• Able to measure and assess staff training needs
• Able to identify weaknesses and skill gaps
• Understands the importance of facilitating on-going professional development opportunities for staff
• Capable of assessing training needs and identifying means (e.g., classes, mentoring, written materials) to fill skill gaps
• Understands the many different types of training strategies that are available and can decide what is best for the specific area of focus
• Able to provide opportunities for staff to demonstrate leadership skills
• Able to provide clear and meaningful performance evaluation
• Able to encourage the development of skills that increase personal and departmental productivities
• Understands how to elevate or advance participants who are doing well to positions with greater status and have a system to track results and provide relevant data

Time Management: The ability to organize and plan how to divide your time between specific activities.

• Uses their time effectively and efficiently
• Values time
• Concentrates their efforts on the more important priorities
• Gets more done in less time than others
• Can attend to a broader range of activities

Vendor/Buyer Relations and Negotiation - Subject Matter Expert: The process and management of building strong, valuable vendor relationships.

• Skilled in analyzing and evaluating vendor/buyer relations and negotiation processes
• Skilled in establishing vendor/buyer relations and negotiation best practices and standards

Works Well Under Pressure: The ability to deal with unforeseen constraints while working to meet an objective.

• Does not become defensive or irritated when times are tough
• Can be counted on to hold things together during tough times
• Doesn't show frustration when resisted or blocked
• Is a settling influence in a crisis

Written Communication: The ability to convey a message through the use of the written word (e.g. documents, emails, reports.)

• Is able to write clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles
• Can get messages across that have the desired effect

Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of merchandising experience with a minimum of 2 years of holding management responsibilities

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Business, Marketing, or related field or equivalent experience

The base pay range for this position is $175,000 - $204,000 per year ; however, base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, a full range of medical and other benefits is offered.

The Fine Print

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. Zappos is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for applicants at this time.

The Zappos Family of Companies is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, veteran status, disability, history of disability or perceived disability. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may email us at recruiting@zappos.com or call us at 1.702.943.7777.

To all recruitment agencies: We do not accept unsolicited agency resumes and are not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.