VP Merchandising

Job Description

Ingram Content Group (ICG) is seeking a Vice President, Merchandising to join our team in LaVergne, TN. In this role, you will develop, execute and manage the strategic direction driving profitably and growth of Ingram’s wholesale businesses through the acquisition and management of physical products. You will manage all aspects of the buying and merchandising process to increase participation in Ingram service offerings. This role will partner with publishers and vendors, as well as with internal colleagues to gather knowledge and data to understand and enhance our wholesale offerings to retail and library customers. You will lead a team that is responsible for Ingram’s wholesale buying as well as business development with publishers. This role also ensures that strategic plans are practical plans and that processes allow the team to achieve ICG business goals.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 10 years’ experience as a merchandise planner or buyer in a large retail or wholesale organization or equivalent experience in a book publishing setting
• 7 years’ experience in a leadership role

Key Responsibilities:

• Develops and executes the buying and merchandising strategy for physical books and other products ensuring it aligns with company goals as well as publisher/customer demands.
• Drives innovation in merchandising/buying strategies and ensures publishers are taking advantage of all possible sales channels for all their titles. 
• Utilizes a thorough understanding of Ingram selling channels and works to improve title availability and discoverability to generate more sales.
• Analyze sales data, market trends and customer/vendor feedback to continuously optimize purchasing decisions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors.
• Leads the team to manage and optimize inventory metrics (fill rate, turn, cost per unit, and contribution margin).
• Partners with Operations and Finance to maintain a high-efficiency supply chain and DC & network stocking strategy for operationally efficient and profitable inventory management.
• Leads negotiations with publishers for more favorable trading terms and participation in publisher revenue programs. 
• Ensures that regular business reviews are conducted with vendors
• Works closely with Ingram marketing and sales forces to align merchandising strategies to sell and increase participation in all Ingram services to publishers
• Fosters a collaborative data-drive culture, ensuring teams are aligned with company goals.
• Sets priorities, identifies opportunities, finds the signal in the noise, and creates consensus around the best ideas. Provides structure to allow work to get done efficiently. 
• Simplifies and improve processes. Roots out inefficiency. Develops efficient workflows. Makes it easier to do business with Ingram

Qualifications