Head of Merchandising (M/W)

Company history:
For over a century, Rossignol has been driven by the ambition to set the benchmark in mountain sports. Through continuous innovation and expertise, the brand has evolved into an iconic name. Catering to all enthusiasts, from amateurs to elite athletes, Rossignol offers a comprehensive range of high-performance products, including equipment, apparel, and accessories for alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, and snowboarding. With a deep-rooted passion for winter sports, Rossignol collaborates closely with top athletes to develop cutting-edge, intuitive products that enhance the on-snow experience. Committed to making winter sports more accessible and enjoyable, Rossignol continues to push the boundaries of technology and design, empowering skiers and riders of all levels to share in the thrill of the mountains.

Position Overview:
Reporting to the Softgoods General Manager, the Head of Merchandising will be the face of Rossignol for the Softgoods BU and will sit on the leadership team. They will collaborate with all BU and cross-functional partners: marketing, design, product development, and sourcing, as well as the wholesale & DTC teams and EXECOM, to establish, lead, and manage the strategy and seasonal concepts for the Rossignol global softgoods (apparel, footwear, accessories, bags) business. As the Head of Merchandising, they will be an essential backbone for the company, participating in the brand's business planning, budgeting, KPIs, and functional discussions and initiatives between the various departments.

Accountabilities:

1. Hire, train, lead, support, and mentor the merchandising team ensuring they and the brand have long-term growth and success.
2. Provide strategic vision and operational excellence in all aspects of the S&OP process, including sales demand plan, merchandising consistency, range efficiency, and stock management.
3. Collaborate closely with Design, Marketing, Ops, and Development to lead the direction through the consumer and business development of the product and ensure the best assortment and margin KPIs.
4. Lead the analysis of market needs in collaboration with wholesalers and DTC across the regions to define sales strategies to increase turnover and market share.
5. Validate and set global pricing, margin requirements, and marketing calendar, as well as manage product delivery flow.
6. Collaborate with country managers to ensure maximum exposure and profit.
7. Ensure the brand vision and strategy are aligned with consumer expectations through a solid long-range merch plan, with continuous innovation that creates strong customer experiences and builds long-term relationships with the brand.
8. Customize category sales plans for each division involved and identify/address/solve divergences between budgets and objectives.
9. Support marketing events and athletes, ensuring strong brand and product synergy between hardgoods and softgoods.
10. Ensure athletes are engaged in product creation through briefing, problem-solving, and wear testing, creating decisive brand storytelling moments.
11. Investigate and support brand-enhancing collaborations.

Qualifications (key competencies):

1. A bachelor's degree in business/merchandising or a related area is required. Masters Preferred.
2. Global/ Strategic/ Visionary.
3. An inspiring people leader who invests, develops, and mentors.
4. Leading product through the eyes and needs of the customer.
5. Excellent commercial skills with the ability to build strategic partnerships in DTC, Partner, and Wholesale accounts.
6. A balance of financial acumen and product vision is your secret weapon.
7. Excellent written and oral communication with the ability to inspire and lead internally and externally through words and presentations.
8. Entrepreneurial with a Start-Up mentality.
9. Comprehensive experience with leading merchandising and long-range planning for a global apparel and, ideally, footwear product from ideation through consumer experience.
10. Industry leader with a strong background in storytelling, competitor analysis, market opportunities, and trend forecasting.
11. Well-organized with focused attention to detail. An experienced and proactive problem solver.
12. Travel required.
13. Fluent verbal and written in English, French, and/or Italian is a plus.
14. Expert level PPT, EXCEL, PLM Management.

Company culture:
At Rossignol, our legacy is built on innovation, a deep passion for the mountains, and a commitment to sustainability. As the winter sports and outdoor industry evolves, we are redefining our strategies with a more inclusive and responsible approach. Guided by our raison d'être - "Carve movements of sustainability and human potential" - we aim to create opportunities for people to thrive while preserving the mountain environment for future generations. This purpose shapes our company culture, uniting our teams around a shared passion for the outdoors and a commitment to meaningful change. Through our RESPECT Program, we drive environmental and social initiatives with concrete actions and measurable goals, ensuring a more sustainable and balanced future. We are more than just a brand - we are a movement that empowers individuals, protects our playground, and redefines the future of mountain sports with purpose and responsibility. We are pioneering, we play to win, we act with humility, we respect our world, we are stronger together - and we invite you to join us on this adventure.