Vice President Merchandise Planning and Allocation - Express

About Express, Inc.

Express, Inc. is a multi-brand fashion retailer whose portfolio includes Express, Bonobos and UpWest. The Company operates an omnichannel platform as well as physical and online stores. Grounded in a belief that style, quality and value should all be found in one place, Express is a brand with a purpose - We Create Confidence. We Inspire Self-Expression. - powered by a styling community. Bonobos is a menswear brand known for exceptional fit and an innovative retail model. UpWest is an apparel, accessories and home goods brand with a purpose to Provide Comfort for People & Planet.

The Company has over 530 Express retail and Express Factory Outlet stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, the Express.com online store and the Express mobile app; over 60 Bonobos Guideshop locations and the Bonobos.com online store; and 13 UpWest retail stores and the UpWest.com online store. Express, Inc. is traded on the NYSE under the symbol EXPR. For more information about our Company, please visit www.express.com/investor and for more information about our brands, please visit www.express.com, www.bonobos.com or www.upwest.com.

The VP of Merchandise Planning and Allocation is responsible for identifying and developing strategies for a Gender/Channel based on a combination of the company’s directives, market feedback, customer insights, and historical data.  This role partners with the corresponding GMM, SVP Merchandising to co-lead the implementation of long-range strategies for their categories of business.  Responsible for delivering sales and gross margin objectives aligned to the company’s financial operating plans.  Accountable to inventory management within their business.  Interfaces with cross-functional partners to ensure proper coordination and execution of assortment and merchandise financial plans through pre-season strategic work and in-season execution.  Responsible for guiding and leading their organization on execution of the plans.  Coaches and develops direct reports.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leads and drives overall sales strategy, profitability and accountability
• Delivers sales and margin targets for the areas of responsibility through adoption, engagement, and execution of the Go To Market process
• Directs and guides the development of pre-season financial plan that aligns financial Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to support merchandise and assortment planning strategies
• Leads a team across multiple categories to analyze, identify and plan pre-season category and assortment plans supporting a strategic view of merchandise line (SVL)
• Leads a team to address in-season opportunities through sales, receipts, markdown and inventory management
• Partners with corresponding GMM to develop both long-range planning (LRP) and short-term plans that deliver the strategy with financial integrity
• Collaborates and leads in all areas of the company to further LRP and financial strategies across Production and Sourcing, Stores and Ecommerce, Marketing and Customer insights, and Senior management
• Demonstrates leadership and provides formal and informal training to develop team; manages, coaches, and develops Directors of Planning and Managers of Allocation and their teams to increase and strengthen business acumen through quality financial plans, accurate forecasting, collaborative and constructive dialogue and actionable insights
• Models Express’ values and core competencies in action and words

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• 15+ years of Merchandise Planning experience
• Prior relevant Retail experience required 
• Proven analytical skills
• Retail math expertise
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

CRITICAL SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

• Excellent organizational, prioritizing and problem-solving skills
• Ability to coordinate cross-functional projects
• Sense of urgency and strong attention to detail
• Ability to work well within a team environment
• Strong people and project management skills
• Demonstrated leadership and influencing skills
• Ability to identify, develop, and retain talent

An equal opportunity employer, Express, Inc. does not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or any other terms and conditions of employment hiring on the basis of any federal, state, or locally protected characteristic. Express, Inc. only hires individuals authorized for employment in the United States. Express, Inc. is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to search and apply for a listed job position, please call 1-800-964-9793 and say 'Associate Relations' or send an e-mail to AssociateRelations@Express.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Notification to Agencies: Please note that Express, Inc. does not accept unsolicited resumes or calls from third-party recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Master Service Agreement and approval from HR to submit resumes for a specific requisition, Express, Inc. will not consider or approve payment to any third-parties for hires made.