AKIRA Divisional Merchandise Manager

In 2002, AKIRA opened the doors to its first women's clothing boutique in Chicago. Since then, the company has extended its reach to 30+ stores across the United States, as well as a thriving eCommerce business (shopAKIRA.com.) AKIRA is extremely well-poised for sustained growth as we continue to build a nationally recognized brand.

AKIRA’s culture has one very large, distinct difference from other fast-fashion competitors: Other-Worldly Customer Service and Fanatical, Obsessive Attention to the consumer’s needs and desires. The core principle for all employees at AKIRA is to Act and Think Like an Owner, and this belief can be reflected across all areas of the company.

The Position

Divisional Merchandise Manager

Location

Chicago, IL

Overview:

The Divisional Merchandise Manager is responsible for developing and executing merchandise strategies along with growing the overall sales volume and profit of the apparel/accessories division. This person will work closely with our buying team and our stakeholders to ensure the assortments and products resonate with our desired customers.

Essential Functions:

• Drive merchandise assortments to meet customer needs, sales goals, and overall brand strategy for the company
• Assists team with strategies and targets in order to support growth over all categories
• Train, mentor, and coach new members
• Work closely with Design and Product Development teams to ensure garment pricing and margin are in line with business needs.
• Inspire fashion and style through engaging product presentation.
• Facilitate production planning across sourcing and vendors
• Understand and oversee the OTB
• Provide assistance to brick-and-mortar and eCommerce teams on proper marketing and promotional opportunities for exclusive drops, new pieces, etc

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Fashion, Business or a related field
• 6+ years in a Merchant or Merchant Manager role
• Ability to lead and manage a team through a fast-paced environment
• Understanding of overall trends, fit and look of prospective items
• Ability to think strategically regarding to planning, timelines, etc
• Must be able to travel

The Ideal Candidate Has/Is:

• Exceptional work ethic and motivation to meet strict deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communicator
• Outstanding organizational skills, with keen attention to detail and diligent task follow-through
• Ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast - paced, dynamic environment
• Highly collaborative, responsive team player

Job Type: Full-Time In-Office