Product Development Merchant

Position Purpose:

Responsible for driving the strategic objectives of global product development to deliver new product or services to market. This role will have responsibility for purchasing merchandise sourced for specific departments. Achieve Y-O-Y product vitality while also driving industry leading deflation.

Key Responsibilities:

• 40% Drive product innovation/vitality by identifying globally competitive products and services in order to drive sustained growth across specific departments. Responsible for providing customized, cost-effective quality products to remain competitive utilizing knowledge of private label sourcing expertise to drive sales and profitability.
• 20% Identify and qualify domestic and international vendors in order to develop and manufacture globally competitive private label products that meet The Home Depot s global customer demands and quality expectations.
• 20% ''Work closely with each business/merchant teams to drive product selection and line reviews, negotiate, prepare & execute supplier contracts and contract compliance. Conduct supplier capacity/capability studies; measure & manage supplier performance. Manage and consolidate supply base as appropriate to improve sourcing effectiveness.
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• 20% Work closely with product and design engineering, global merchant leaders, and sourcing quality teams to identify critical to quality flow-down characteristics in order to drive supplier processes and specifications for product development including, packaging, safety and environmental issues

Direct Manager/Direct Reports:

• Typically reports to Sr. Director
• No associates report to this role on a permanent basis, but requires the leadership of a work group: assign and review work, train and contribute to performance appraisal (but not hiring, firing or disciplinary action).

Travel Requirements:

• Typically requires overnight travel 20% to 50% of the time.

Physical Requirements:

• Requires intermittent periods during which continuous physical exertion is required, such as walking, standing, stooping, climbing, lifting material or equipment, some of which may be heavy or awkward.

Working Conditions:

• Typically in a comfortable environment but with regular exposure to factors such as temperature extremes, moving machinery, loud noise, and fumes which cause noticeable discomfort or a moderate risk of accident or illness.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be eighteen years of age or older.
• Must be legally permitted to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree - Engineering disciplines or Finance/Business, Global Sourcing experience.
• Ability to source and select suppliers and draft contracts.
• Must have strong quantitative, & data analysis skills, project management and process improvement skills.
• Knowledge of retail and sourcing processes; in-depth understanding of international sourcing of private label brands

Minimum Education:

• The knowledge, skills and abilities typically acquired through the completion of a bachelor's degree program or equivalent degree in a field of study related to the job.

Preferred Education:

• No additional education

Minimum Years of Work Experience:

• 6

Preferred Years of Work Experience:

• No additional years of experience

Minimum Leadership Experience:

• None

Preferred Leadership Experience:

• None

Certifications:

• None

Competencies:

• The successful candidate MUST be a change agent with the ability to influence at all levels of the business, he/she must have excellent communication, presentation & facilitation skills, a self-starter.
• Ability & willingness to travel are essential elements of this position.
• Six Sigma BB Certification is a plus.
• Understanding of supply chain process domestic and international to