Job offer: Merchandising Manager

US - NY - Hawthorne

For over 275 years ZWILLING JA HENCKELS has delivered supreme quality, innovation and reliability across its many product lines. In addition to cutlery, the company engineers, manufactures and markets scissors, kitchen gadgets, cookware and flatware. Today, ZWILLING JA HENCKELS sells its products in 100 countries with the help of ten wholly owned subsidiaries. The company took a major step toward continued growth in 2008 by acquiring Staub and Demeyere, two companies steeped in rich history of manufacturing superior quality cast iron and stainless steel cookware respectively

Merchandising Manager must be a self-motivated professional with solid accomplishments in training, customer service processes and relationship building as well as experience in managing a team. Must possess the ability to effectively communicate corporate strategies and execute business plans as well as motivate, mentor and lead a Merchandising team.

SCOPE:
Merchandising Manager provides leadership of the national Merchandising team. Responsibilities include coaching and mentoring the team on visitation schedules, training, demonstrations, and relationship building. The manager will be the communication link between National Account Managers and the Merchandising team. Ensure the effectiveness of the Merchandising team and reporting results to the Trade Marketing Director. Develop procedures that improve the underlying administrative processes with the goal to optimize national sales performance.


REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:
Reports to: Trade Marketing Director
Works closely with: Merchandising team, National Account Managers, Sales Team, Sales Coordinator, Junior Trade Marketing Manager, Customer Service, Marketing, and Finance Team.

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
➢ Communication
o Primary point of communication to Director of Trade Marketing on behalf of merchandising program.
o Communicate the needs and requests of the stores and districts to the National Account Managers.

➢ Business Management
o Mentor and coach the Merchandising team:
• In cooperation with Human Resources manage the new hire process and conduct new hire trainings.
• Ensure that the merchandising team has the skills and tools needed to train store staff and management on all ZWILLING brands’ product knowledge and usage techniques – including new product introductions.
• Ensure that the team has the presentation and culinary skills needed to sell and demonstrate all ZWILLING brand products.
• Ensure the team has the skills to build and maintain lasting relationships with customers’ divisional and store management to maximize business potential through in-store team efforts.
• Coach the team to make optimal use of their time, by guiding them on rotation schedules and actual appointments.
• Manage and conduct the annual training of the merchandising team.
o Work closely with National Account Managers and Trade Marketing Director to collectively establish standards of demonstration, training, and merchandising. Ensure maintenance and consistent execution of initiatives.
o Work with the Trade Marketing Director, National Account Managers, and Marketing team to execute efficient product launches.
o Coordinate participation in bridal and special events according to account needs.
o Analyze sales (sell-in and sell-through) per category and brand for each store to set and track goals for Merchandisers in each region.

➢ Administrative:
o Management of Merchandising Budget (Compensation and Travel) to ensure Merchandising Team and Manager stay within set annual budget.
o Work closely with Sales Analyst to monitor and improve Sales Logix’s ensuring accurate reporting of the Merchandising efforts.
o Guide the Sales Coordinator to ensure Customer Service support of the Merchandising team.
o Gather and report quantitative and qualitative data for the Trade Marketing Director who will use the data to develop strategic plans as well as to report on the effectiveness and efficiency of the merchandising team to the CEO and the Board of Directors.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

➢ Solid experience in field sales and merchandising with a branded consumer product
➢ Minimum 2 years experience in managing a team
➢ College degree or equivalent work experience
➢ Sound Organizational Skills: planning, expediting, prioritizing, managing multiple tasks and meeting corporate deadlines
➢ Excellent verbal and written communication skills
➢ Ability to work autonomously and effective time management
➢ Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
➢ Willingness to travel overnight. Approximately 50%

Contact Information:
E-mail resume with cover letter including salary requirements to kslade@zwillingus.com. Resumes must be in Microsoft Word format.

Any questions? Please contact:

Karin Slade
E-Mail: kslade@zwillingus.com