Sr Merchant

Ulta Beauty, Inc.•Bolingbrook, IL

About The Position

Discover greater levels of performance. With over 1,400 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. As a Senior Buyer, your expertise, vision and strategic mindset will enable you to bring omni merchandising strategies to life by working across all facets of the business. You’ll lead the merchandising team to meet the objectives of the enterprise through innovative and profitable assortments, P&L management, brand relationships, negotiations and cross-functional best practices. Leveraging your advocacy and influential skills, you’ll partner to directly impact sales, margin and inventory turn results of Ulta Beauty.

Requirements

Seasoned merchandising expertise with 8+ years of professional retail experience with increasing scope and responsibility with a minimum of 2+ years of experience as a Merchant/Buyer
2+ years of demonstrated experience leading a team in a high-performance culture
Demonstrated experience in establishing credible brand partnerships and overseeing large, complex negotiations
Ability to set competitive and breakthrough merchandising strategies and demonstrated experience leading through execution
Deep knowledge of category, product, trend, and guest buying behaviors
Experience managing a large budget/P&L, interpreting, and applying understanding of key financial indicators to make better business decisions
Ability to make sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems
Displays organizational savviness and executive presence while anticipating and balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders
Exceptional and effective communication skills
Effective planning and prioritizing skills and ability to stay organized in a fast-moving business
Strong bottom-line orientation and pushes self and others to achieve results
Value creation mindset, thinks like a business owner
Models and encourages the expression of diverse ideas and opinions

Responsibilities

Develop and implement merchandising strategies of category and/or portfolio of brands that achieve the financial and strategic objectives of the category and enterprise (sales, margin, turn)
Establish credible partnerships with brands and lead strategy with relationship through terms negotiations, exclusivity, assortment, and marketing activations.
Develop and grow brands to be financially profitable while identifying and exiting under-performing brands
Curate an innovative and productive omni-channel assortment through quality decisions that strategically expand our core business, amplify newness and create differentiation.
Be ahead of the curve on trends, consumer behavior and competitive activity
Manage the category’s and/or portfolio of brands financial and profitability strategy, making financially sound business decisions through close connection with MP&I and FP&A
Drive a seamless omni-channel experience, bringing vision to life and engaging with our guest at all Ulta Beauty touchpoints through close partner with marketing and operations
Lead decision maker on all thing's strategy, assortment, brand partners, education, eventing, and marketing priorities for the pod
Foster a team culture that is results-oriented and exemplifies a team mentality that aligns to Ulta Beauty’s Values, Mission, and Vision
Take a lead role in category, functional or enterprise initiatives that improve Ulta Beauty’s competitive edge internally and externally
Acts as a leader across the greater merchandising department, providing direction, mentorship, transparent coaching, and feedback to enable high performance