<ul> <li>Seeking a seasoned Retail Merchandising leader for the North America Retail Business Consulting division. The ideal candidate will have deep retail expertise, hands on experience in retail merchandising, especially in grocery, and a proven track record of driving transformation and operational excellence across key topics such as assortment planning, space optimization, pricing and promotions, allocation, vendor management, and category strategy. </li><li>Experience leading merchandising functions within retail organizations and delivering measurable results through change initiatives is essential. Consulting experience is highly advantageous but not required. </li><li>In this position, you will lead large-scale merchandising transformation programs, redesign operating models, business processes, and planning cycles, and enable technology adoption across merchandising levers. Success requires deep industry knowledge, practical expertise, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and the ability to build strong client relationships and shape the future of our consulting practice. </li></ul> <p>Key Responsibilities</p> <p>Strategic Leadership</p> <ul> <li>Develop and execute the merchandising consulting strategy for the North America market, aligning with the company's global vision and objectives. </li><li>Own and deliver the revenue targets for the merchandising consulting business for North America Retail. </li><li>Lead high-impact merchandising strategy and transformation engagements, providing strategic insights and driving value for global clients, with a particular focus on grocery Retail and, ideally, broader general merchandise and discretionary categories. </li><li>Determine Retailers' merchandising objectives by assessing current assortment, space and floor planning, pricing, inventory management, planning processes and operating models to identify opportunities, gaps, and future threats. </li><li>Collaborate with global leadership to ensure consistency and quality of service across regions. </li><li>Leverage deep functional merchandising experience to shape change programs either within merchandising or in partnership with central strategy/operations teams. </li></ul> <p>Client Engagement & Business Development</p> <ul> <li>Build and maintain strong relationships with Chief Merchandising Officers, VPs of Merchandising, Pricing and Category leaders, and other key decision-makers in the Retail industry. </li><li>Identify and pursue new business opportunities in merchandising strategy and operations, expanding the client base and driving revenue growth. </li><li>Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, providing thought leadership on merchandising trends, pricing strategies, assortment optimization, data analytics and AI-driven planning. </li><li>Develop new merchandising consulting propositions that enable clients to address future category and pricing challenges, leveraging your network and relationships to shape opportunities and drive pipeline growth. </li></ul> <p>Practice Leadership</p> <ul> <li>Play a leadership role in shaping and building the merchandising consulting capability, with functional depth across assortment planning, space & floor planning, pricing and promotions, vendor negotiations, allocation, category strategy, merchandise financial planning, and private label development. </li><li>Initially, the role will focus on thought leadership, client development, delivery leadership and driving consulting revenue; over time, there will be opportunities to build and lead a growing team as the practice expands. </li><li>Drive recruitment, training, and professional development initiatives as the team scales, ensuring it develops best-in-class merchandising capabilities and consulting expertise. </li><li>Foster a collaborative and innovative culture, ensuring a free exchange of perspectives and ideas to drive client impact. </li><li>Champion business process innovation and continuous improvement across merchandising functions, drawing on proven change management approaches. </li></ul> <p>Thought Leadership</p> <ul> <li>Represent the company at merchandising and Ret ail conferences, events, and forums (e.g., NRF Big Show, pricing & assortment forums), enhancing brand visibility and thought leadership in merchandising transformation. </li><li>Create and publish Whitepapers on emerging retail trends and capabilities. </li></ul> <p>Operational Excellence</p> <ul> <li>Ensure the highest standards of merchandising project delivery, client satisfaction, and operational efficiency. </li><li>Monitor and manage the Consulting practice's financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, and profitability analysis. </li><li>Implement best practices in project management, risk management, and quality assurance. </li></ul> <p>Qualifications</p> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree in business, merchandising, or a related field preferred; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred. </li><li>Deep functional expertise in merchandising strategy, pricing, assortment, space and vendor management. </li><li>Demonstrated ability to assess, redesign, and innovate merchandising business processes, with exposure to change management approaches and techniques. </li><li>Solid understanding of client markets and challenges, with the ability to shape relevant solutions and propositions. </li><li>Strong analytical, problem-solving, and leadership capabilities. </li><li>Deep Grocery merchandising expertise required; additional experience in general merchandise (e.g., apparel, home, electronics) and discretionary categories (e.g., specialty, non-essential Retail) is highly beneficial. </li><li>Familiarity with merchandise financial planning is a plus. </li><li>Willingness to travel as required. </li></ul> <p>Experience:</p> <ul> <li>Minimum of 15 years in Retail, with a significant portion in merchandising strategy, operations, and transformation-ideally within a Retail organization; consulting experience is also valued. </li><li>Extensive hands-on operational experience in merchandising including direct leadership or ownership of key levers such as assortment planning, pricing, allocation, vendor management, category strategy, and financial planning. </li><li>Proven track record of driving transformation or leading change initiatives within merchandising functions, or in central support roles (e.g., strategy, operations, transformation office), delivering measurable results through operational improvements and change management. </li><li>Demonstrated ability to lead and build high-performing teams, including recruitment, training, and professional development. </li><li>Expertise in managing complex client relationships and delivering high-value merchandising solutions. </li><li>Superior communication and presentation skills, able to articulate complex merchandising strategies clearly and persuasively to senior stakeholders. </li><li>Strong financial acumen, including P&L management, budgeting, and financial planning. </li><li>Knowledge of AI-enabled merchandising, </li></ul>