Job Description

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, and Club Monaco, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands.

At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.

Position Overview

Maximize sales and profitability of product line through strategic product selection that supports the customer experience. Manage execution and in season performance of assortments through the establishment of strong partnerships with cross functional teams as well as trend/business analysis. Partner with cross category Divisional buyers to drive comprehensive strategy. Overall support of company's long-range goals and divisional strategies/initiatives.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Execute Product Strategy:

Formulate and profitably execute the selection, procurement, and promotion of merchandise

Deliver compelling product assortment: Review product assortments with Buyer to insure the integration of brands and balance of price points. Determine door assortments and merchandising strategies

Develop & implement product strategies that tie to financial plans and customer experience

* Make relevant product recommendations based on demonstrated knowledge of customer, marketplace and parent line trends
* Ensure product is balanced by price point and color as well as meets climate needs

Complete current and historical analysis to support recommendations and decisions at the style/color level

Present at all business and assortment meetings and influence decisions

Partner with Sr. Director, Merchandise Planning, Global Brand Planning, brand, Creative and Retail Presentation weekly and monthly to implement strategic changes in the business to improve profitability and productivity

Build Top 10 product strategies including product placement and life cycle management

Support and recommend key look items

Partner with brand presentation to ensure alignment with product and customer experience strategies in stores and online

Identify growth, maintain, and down trending businesses with objective of improving productivity of total complex

Partner with planning to assess risk/opportunity to retail sales and gross margin.

Review and communicate deadlines, as well as ensure accuracy of outputs from direct reports

Regularly visit competition and key markets to stay abreast of market trends and apply learnings to current and future assortments

Developing Talent:

Lead by example; engage and inspire team

Develop direct reports and promote an environment that fosters respect for the ideas of others and supports ongoing collaboration to execute business strategies

Provide coaching and feedback on a consistent basis to direct reports

Build and manage succession planning for each direct report

Manage daily priorities, performance, and work product of all direct reports

Building Relationships:

Partner with corporate merchandising to ensure business needs are met

Partner with Sr. Director to ensure strategies align with divisional and customer experience strategies

Establish and grow a strong level of communication and partnership with business partners in and outside of immediate cross functional team.

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Bachelors Degree

Experience

* Experience at Buyer/Merchandiser level in a high paced vertical environment managing others
* Product development experience is a plus

Skills/Behaviors

* Ability to direct and manage multiple activities
* Understanding of different system capabilities
* High level of accuracy, detail orientation and organization skills
* Strong presentation & communication skills; both written and verbal
* Ability to complete current & historical analysis (change to attributing) of the business to support recommendations and decisions. (color/style level)
* Creative, assertive and solution-oriented
* Clear grasp of the product lifecycle
* Customer, marketplace & product expert
* Strong leadership and team building skills including the ability to motivate, negotiate and influence effectively across departments & divisions
* Develop strong relationships throughout the organization