Accessories Director

Purpose of Role

This role exists to help establish the Music Connect Accessories function within YCA. It is a great opportunity to join the newly formed Music Connect Business Unit, which will help develop new accessories for musical instrument customers as an adjacent business and help provide experiential value that expands the enjoyment of sound and music.

The primary responsibility of this role is to drive profitable growth and executional excellence in the Accessories Business by owning the end-to-end merchandising and assortment strategy; balancing customer demand, financial performance, and operational realities; aligning stakeholders; and delivering high-quality accessories that strengthen Music Connect and Yamaha.

Key Accountabilities Include
* Drive strategic direction for Accessories Business, ensuring alignment to Music Connect and YCA Strategies.
* Drive achievement of Accessories Business and Music Connect goals and KPIs
* Drive resolution of critical matters that impact Accessories Business
* Drive a positive stakeholder experience across Music Connect, YCA and YCJ regions.
* Drive an organizational culture that attracts, empowers, develops, retains and rewards employees who fit and enhance the defined culture.
* Drive timely delivery of a high-quality accessories assortment
* Drive alignment and execution of all initiatives within the Music Connect Accessories business

Primary Responsibilities Include
* Own the end-to-end assortment planning process, including product mix, quantities, price, inventory levels, forecasting demand, markdowns and promotions
* Ensure all necessary support functions and processes required to establish and operate this new business area are defined and embedded in the organization ensuring alignment with operational stakeholders across YCA and YCJ.
* Design and lead the merchandising strategy, including goals, sales, margins, inventory targets
* Product development and sourcing, including procurement process design and management, new product sourcing, supplier negotiations, and production timeline
* Work cross-functionally to design cohesive product messaging, pricing strategies. online displays and in store product merchandising solutions.
* Use market research, competitive analysis and customer buying trends to identify product opportunities

Core Functional Competencies
* Analytics: Use data to inform marketing strategy and activities
* Market Understanding: Understand competition and differentiation; conduct research about prospective customers
* Product Development: Manage product design, development, and introduction as an integrated, holistic value chain
* Product Marketing: Defines a product's target audience and develop buyer personas; prepares and recommends effective product positioning within the market and establishes product goal setting; develops a product's Go-To-Market strategy
* Negotiation/Vendor Management: Gather and analyze data to understand root causes of issues and determine appropriate solutions
* Project Management: Plan, organize, and manage tasks and resources to bring about successful completion of a specific project
* Product knowledge: Has a great depth of product knowledge and can articulate the differences between own products and competitor products

Core Behavioral Competencies
* Yamaha Way (Will, Integrity, Initiative, Challenge, Commitment)
* Customer Focus
* Decision Quality
* Plans and Aligns
* Collaborates
* Self-Development
* Situational Adaptability

Qualifications
Ideal
* Progressive experience in merchandising or buying
* Experience with budget planning
* Demonstrated success in a highly matrixed and fast-paced environment
* Demonstrated success in balancing and rapid switching between hands-on tactical and strategic work
* Demonstrated success with identifying growth opportunities and achieving business outcomes
* Demonstrated success working and influencing others in a high-volume, matrixed organization
* Proficient in Microsoft Office with advanced PowerPoint and Excel skills

Preferred
* 7+ years of experience in merchandising or buying
* Experience in the fashion or accessories industry
* People Leadership
* Experience working with a Japanese company

Compensation
* The hiring range for this position is $121,200 - $138,300 annually + bonus. This is the hiring range and does not include the value of benefits. The hiring range does not reflect total earning potential over time.
* Final offers within the posted compensation range are based on qualifications, skills and experience required for the role.

Here's What We'll Bring
* Comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Vision, Dental, LTD, Life-Insurance and 401k with match AND automatic contributions
* Performance based bonus program
* Robust employee wellness programs including free music lessons
* Gym and wellness reimbursement program
* Tobacco cessation reward program
* Free concerts from award winning artists
* Discounted hotel, travel, entertainment, and other attractions
* Employee product purchase program
* Flexible work options (including hybrid schedule)
* Casual dress
* Vacation, sick-time and personal floating holidays
* In-office events, for example -- Bring Your Dog to Work Day, Employee Singing Competitions, Spirit Week and other fun events
* Inclusive and passionate culture