Merch Associate (Buying & Merchandising)

Serving the needs of all families with young children, Carter’s Inc. is the largest North American apparel retailer exclusively for babies and young children, encompassing Carter’s, OshKosh B’gosh, Skip*Hop and Little Planet brands. Meaningful work, constant learning, genuine people, and a community guided by core values that promote inclusion and innovation is in everything we do. There are many reasons to build your career at Carter's.

Essential Job functions (Tasks, duties and responsibilities most important to get the job done)

• Support the creation and development of the merchandise mix to support and define Mexico’s assortment.
• Aids to assures differentiation between brands and how to complement them and their adequation to the domestic market for the SBU that he/she/they work for.
• Support product strategy analysis including cross-functional meetings, and working closely the USA team to ensure product development for Mexico’s needs.
• Aids build and customize product flow and country relevant groups and seasonality. Oversees with help of their Merch Assistant the creation of flow charts, lineboards and tools for Buying, Planning, Allocation, Supply Chain, Visual Merch and Store Ops use.
• Maintain awareness of competition relative to product value relationship and customer profitability.
• Coach and develop assistant and trainee level merchants
• Present to leadership at key meetings supporting the Sr. Merchant
• Attend and help present at sell-in meetings for major accounts as needed and required by Wholesale team.
• Support innovation and thought leadership in product assortments, business models and processes to help find creative solutions for greater efficiency, sustainable growth and successful brand development in our competitive market.
• Support development of Carter’s Wholesale brand merchandising strategies
• Understand brand direction and vision to support product selection and development that meet Mexican needs for all channels
•  Develop seasonal line sheets and support each season launching ; utilize historical results as guidance.
• Apply selling data, market trends and store footprints to support the development of prescriptive assortment and fixture guidelines for our retail stores
• Support development of short and long term strategies for growth in new channels or clients, evaluating brand positioning

SUPERVISORY / BUDGETARY / EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION RESPONSIBILITY

• They submit comp review expenses and invoices to Concur/SAP

JOB requirements (minimum competencies required for job performance)

• Good communication skills and build consensus among all parties
• Well-developed presentation skills
• Strong aesthetic point of view and the ability to translate to our brands
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
• Intermediate to Excellent written and spoken English.

prior work experience and educational requirements

• 3 – 5 years of experience in a retail merchandising or design position.
• Knowledge of retail metrics in order to effectively analyze programs.
• Ability to build and maintain cross-functional communication and relationships.
• Willingness to work on calendars / timelines of our partners when necessary.
• Passionate, highly self-motivated, ability to be productive and drive results within a changing environment or under pressure.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Work during weekends during buy/sell in season, 4 times a year.
• A well fed and hydrate body, sleep and sunshine to face all challenges that may approach. There are always challenges, and there are never the same.

NOTE:  This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The duties described may be changed or reassigned at the discretion of management, and the employee may be required to perform duties that are not listed in the job description.