Director of Merchandising, Hardlines

Director of Merchandising, Hardlines JOB PURPOSE: TO DELIVER ON THE MISSION OF WILCO BY DRIVING MERCHANDISING SALES, MARGIN, AND INVENTORY PERFORMANCE. JOB SUMMARY: The Director of Merchandising, Hardlines leads strategy and execution across merchandise planning, product development, sourcing, pricing, promotions, and vendor partnerships. This role is accountable for sales, margin, and inventory performance across Wilco’s Pet, Animal Health, Fencing and Livestock, and Hardware & Auto categories, across both stores and eCommerce. The Director builds and develops a high-performing merchandising team and partners closely with the Director of Merchandising, Softlines, and cross-functional leaders to deliver results across the business. Reports To : VP of Merchandising Supervises : Product Merchants, Merchandising Assistants RESPONSIBILITIES Strategy & Planning Lead development of merchandise plans by category, for stores and for eCommerce, covering sales and every component of margin: IMU, freight, markdowns and shrink. Partner with the VP of Merchandising to develop strategic merchandising plans, including a sourcing strategy for each SKU. Deliver annual sales, margin, and inventory plans through categories purchased directly and through product merchants. Product Development & Assortment Develop, manage, and collaborate on product strategies for in-store and eCommerce products in a high-SKU-count environment. Apply market information and brand filtering to product strategy, including emerging trends in Animal Health, Fencing, Livestock, Pet, Hardware, and Auto. Lead SKU optimization and rationalization during regular business cycles, with a focus on in-stock performance in replenishment-driven categories. Manage slow-moving product reviews and strategies, including the discontinuation process and discounted pricing. Work with vendors and internal partners to meet regulatory and compliance requirements, particularly in animal health and other regulated products. Vendor Partnerships Lead and support Product Merchants in building effective vendor partnerships. Participate directly in vendor strategy sessions and meetings with key vendors, including national brands and ongoing vendor programs. Set vendor plans that include revenue, margin, and inventory targets and advertising support and co-op funds. Promotions & Pricing Lead pricing strategy to maximize sales and margin targets by department. Own the end-to-end promotional strategy for hardlines categories, from selection and sourcing through direction to store operations, including post-promotion analysis and reporting. Monitor and oversee competitor pricing strategies for hardlines, including response execution and price elasticity review. Inventory & Supply Chain Support inventory management for hardlines in partnership with the Director of Merchandise Planning and Allocation. Support supply chain departments on strategies that deliver service and working capital targets. Reporting & Analysis Deliver weekly business reports and forecasts that give fact-based summaries of past performance and profitability to support decision-making. Evaluate and analyze sales and profitability performance across all hardlines categories. Team Leadership Manage and develop the hardlines merchandising team, using relevant metrics to ensure performance, productivity, and growth. ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES Build organizational capacity through improved programs, policies, and systems. Apply strong process discipline and technology systems to drive efficiency. Ensure plans align with company-wide goals, and reconcile them regularly. Perform other duties and tasks as assigned by the VP of Merchandising. SPECIAL SKILLS/TRAINING Retail Finance : strong financial retail background, with a solid grasp of the components of gross margin, advanced retail math, and a competency in making data-based decisions. Sourcing : expert in product sourcing in a dynamic retail environment. Business Acumen : effe…

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