This job contributes to REI’s success by leading strategic planning & project management activities for the Merchandising team.  The Manager, Merch Operations, will be primarily focused on supporting the Merchandising mock store (known as the Product Playground), a space dedicated to bringing seasonal assortment strategies and go-to-customer experiences to life through product samples and creative visual/physical placements. This role will be accountable for ensuring the strategic vision of the Product Playground is upheld through the creation and implementation of durable and scalable processes, project management playbooks and for ensuring all project phases are completed on time and within scope and budget. The Manager leads a team of Coordinators ensuring they are set up for success and allocated to the highest priorities for the Product Playground and other programs as assigned. 

The Manager, Product Playground will collaborate with Merchandising Product Teams as well as cross-divisional partners in the Physical Place and Visual Merchandising Teams to align on key workstreams, resolve operational challenges, and reinforce accountability. Additionally, this role will communicate project status, performance, and opportunities for improvement or change to key stakeholders.

• Initiates, plans, executes, monitors, controls, and closes small-to-medium Merchandising-driven and cross-functional projects of varying timelines related to REI’s Merchandising strategy and Product Playground program.
• Manage the formation of Product Playground annual plans supporting cross-divisional alignment, resources, budgets, and supporting team members to enable resource planning and timely delivery of seasonal reviews, strategic initiatives, and other programs and projects as needed.
• Acts as the primary liaison between Merchandising Product and core cross-functional partners to define requirements, outline timelines and milestones, and document action plans to execute project plans.
• Develop & document processes, documentation, communication & procedures for all divisional projects related to Merchandising projects and the Product Playground.
• Ensures project and initiative objectives for programs are successfully completed through effective task assignments, collaboration with internal, cross-divisional, and external partners.
• Collaborates with and advises leadership in the overall development of strategies, planning, and implementation to meet overall business objectives.
• Leads cross-divisional meetings with internal and external stakeholders to ensure objectives have been clearly delivered and are being acted upon. Informs divisional and cross-divisional leadership of any changes to original plan.
• Ensures continual alignment and process implementation between key cross-divisional stakeholder 

Professional Qualifications

• 5+ years cross-divisional planning, project management experience in a retail environment preferable, with the ability to maintain spreadsheets and any other internal filling systems
• 2+ years directly or indirectly managing people
• 5+ years understanding of Merchandising, retail experience and understanding of Visual Merchandising in the retail environment.
• Exceptional communication skills for effective cross-divisional collaboration and direct coaching & feedback to direct reports and project team members.
• High acumen for accuracy to track high volume of project timelines, budgets, and risks.
• Project management skills including measurement, reporting and financial analysis.
• Ability to create and maintain process systems, documentation and support tools
• Advanced computer skills: Excel, Project Tracking programs (such as Workfront, Smartsheet, or Microsoft Project) and Outlook.
• Leads and collaborates with others on one's own team an across REI for the achievement of business goals.