Lead Merch Coord - Creative Services

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.•Richmond, CA

53d

About The Position

You will be part of the Digital Studio for Pottery Barn responsible for coordinating photo samples, owning the process in furniture and lighting categories, and handling transfers coming from other studios. In this role you will lead and communicate well with other merch coordinators to ensure we are delivering the absolute best results for our brand. Our job is to deliver on all PIP photography deadlines with very detailed work to make everyone's job easier on the post-production side and give customers the best online shopping experience through our images. The Merchandise Coordinator Lead reports into the Digital Studio Producer. This is a key role in supporting ecommerce as our leading brand growth vehicle. This role is the key partner to our Photo Sample Coordinators and Sample Warehouse team. This role is responsible for organizing, assembling and ensuring samples are protected throughout the photo process. Samples for the DS will be coming from multiple sources, including the warehouse, other brand studios and our corporate offices. This role will work towards finding better solutions for managing all the sample needs at the Digital Studio, including training and proficiency in our sample tracking system ShotFlow1. We are looking for a candidate that has excellent organizational skills, that can work systematically and balance speed with diligence. This role will be a part of a team that establishes new high volume digital studio workflows. They will learn to be an effective team player within the digital photo team and with cross channel partners. As the ecommerce merchandise assortment grows and the site changes to meet new shopping trends, the Digital Studio team will need to work together to figure out new ways to capture asset requests in a timely and budget friendly manner while maintaining the highest quality of work.

Requirements

3-5 years photo production experience
Must be able to lift and move merchandise up to 75 pounds
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Excellent customer service skills
Flexible to change and team-focused
Ability to lead a team and delegate effectively
Able to identify issues and problem-solve
Detail-oriented and self-motivated
Ability to multi-task and be highly organized
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite
Ability to delegate tasks to other merchandise coordinators
Professional maturity with the ability to manage up to Producer and Art Director as well as partner closely with Merchandise Coordinator team and entire studio staff
Ability to effectively communicate and build relationships with remote cross-functional partners
Ability to juggle multiple priorities across multiple parties which includes high volume of communication with all levels of associates across all mediums (in person, phone, text, email)
Can-do attitude

Nice To Haves

Familiar with brands and merchandise preferred
Working knowledge of Airtable (training will be provided as needed)

Responsibilities

Expert in time management - product organization and staging, rapid set changing, and thinking on the spot for quick and effective solutions in high pressure time constraints
Supervises and accounts for merchandise and props, anticipating product needs in advance with a continuous flow
Assist with merchant outreach to communicate questions and needs, participating in weekly Pre-Pro calls to relay pertinent information
Responsible for daily workflow schedule, presented to the team at the start of the shoot date.
Trained and proficient in ShotFlow1 to update product Set Lists and monitor photo team progress
Cross reference contact sheets with completed daily shots in SF1, reporting to Producer
Liaison between set and the Sample Coordinators to locate product ahead of shoot date and effectively stage
Prepare and anticipate the on-set needs of the digital studio crew in advance: director, photographer, stylist, and merch team, etc
Works with Creative, Production, Set Build Lead on a daily/weekly basis to review details of merchandise, prop call-outs, and weekly set logistics
Performs additional duties and errands as assigned by digital studio team, including follow-up on urgent requests
Trains and oversees Merchandise Coordinators in the tasks and responsibilities of the position.
Delegate responsibilities as a team leader to MC's, to execute schedule on time
Ensure product samples on-set are in pristine condition, and / or report deficiencies to producer and crew
Works efficiently in Kazing to ensure product is being shot correctly
Works with MC's to report all broken product to Sample Coordinator, Merchants and Sample Library Lead
Works with Sample Library staff, Merchants, Digital Studio Producer, Sample Coordinators, Merchandise Coordinators, and Studio Manager to ensure all merchandise and props are returned with proper labeling, protected for safe return
Maintains professional demeanor with contractors
Keeps safety top of mind at all times while on set