Merchandising Strategy Manager

OVERVIEW

Discover greater levels of performance. With over 1,300 stores throughout the U.S. and an innovative omni-channel ecosystem, Ulta Beauty is revolutionizing the beauty retail experience. Ulta Beauty is expanding its digital capabilities, opening new stores on a continual basis and re-designing existing locations with the latest design and technological advancements for heightened guest experiences. We're not just growing, we're thriving through consistent innovation and a bold commitment to re-imagination. If you want the opportunity to build something strategic, to take ownership of your career trajectory, to apply your passion to operational excellence, Ulta Beauty provides the kind of stability and support few organizations can match. So be curious. Be flexible. Be more than you thought possible. The future is yours at Ulta Beauty.

THE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE:

As a growth company that delivers beauty for all, we seek an individual that has a passion for leading strategy development for Beauty retail. The Merchandising Strategy Manager, reporting to the Sr. Manager of Merchandising Strategy, will be responsible for working directly with Merchandising leadership to shape and develop the long-term category strategies leading visioning, problem solving and opportunity evaluation. Through advanced analytics and aggregating cross-functional data, they will drive ongoing dialogue around category initiatives and partner with Finance, Analytics, Merchandising Planning & Inventory, Enterprise Strategy, and other cross-functional groups to provide holistic insights on business performance and future opportunities to drive growth and profitability. In addition, she/he will lead competitive intelligence for the department including tracking and assessing dynamics and shifts in competitive promotional strategies and driving recommendations on maintaining a competitive advantage.

CORE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support the long-term and annual strategic planning processes and lead the strategic development within our core categories and strategic pillars in alignment with the overall Enterprise and Merchandising strategies

• Lead advanced analytics and aggregation of cross-functional insights, working directly with the Sr. Director Merch Strategy & Insights, VP Merch Strategy & Growth, and other senior Merchant leaders to shape and develop long term and annual strategies that drive competitive advantages and market share growth

• Lead the activation of category programs including advanced problem structuring and solving, business analysis, project management, and progress tracking with clear success metrics

• Define and bring forward creative, out-of-the-box thinking to identify white space opportunities - assess and articulate the strategic rational, grounded in data-driven insights, in support of Merchandising

• Lead competitive intelligence for the department-bringing an analytical mindset to strengthen our understanding of the competitive promotional landscape through data-driven and forward-looking insights

• Evolve strategic frameworks and enhance analytics through a rigorous data-driven and fact-based approach, seamlessly incorporating internal and external data sources to maximize the ROI on strategies and drive adoption across teams

• Translate complex ideas into clear, compelling messages to influence and communicate effectively to all levels and departments across the organization

• Create effective PowerPoint presentations that include influential data points and easy to interpret data visualizations (graphs/charts) to effectively convey strategic opportunities

• Manage key, cross-functional strategic partnerships across Merchandising, Marketing, Consumer Insights, Corporate Strategy, Finance, etc. to collaborate on and activate on category initiatives

• Present in large group settings and elicit collaboration from a wide variety of sources, including Merchandising leadership, to gain buy-in and influence strategic direction

• Drive the automation of processes and analyze data within Excel or other analytical tools such as Tableau

THE ESSENTIALS FOR SUCCESS:

• Minimum of 5+ years of experience in retail and/or strategy consulting with analytical roles and increasing responsibility

• BA/BS or equivalent required

• Experience in beauty, retail, retail-like categories, or consumer product goods preferred

• Previous experience with market measurement, such as Circana, Nielsen, Euromonitor recommended

• Advanced Excel, PowerPoint, and data visualization skills required

• Highly analytical with demonstrated ability to translate data into key insights to drive decisions

• Exceptional problem-solving and critical thinking skills with outstanding attention to detail

• Inquisitive nature and proactive approach to data exploration and opportunity identification

• Ability to manage ambiguity and use business savvy and strategic thinking to recommend the best approach forward

• Proven strength in influencing across functions and levels

• Strong collaborator, working across functions and levels, and team oriented with a coachable, positive attitude

• Highly organized with the ability to balance multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize workload

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with ability to communicate complex topics in a simple and effective manner

• Bias for action

ABOUT

At Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA), the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest North American beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. We bring possibilities to life through the power of beauty each and every day in our stores and online with more than 25,000 products from approximately 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points, including Ulta Beauty's own private label. Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store featuring-hair, skin, brow, and make-up services.

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.