MPB Careers: Ulta – VP Private Label

Locations: Bolingbrook, Illinois
Career Area: Merchandising
Position Type: Full Time
Req ID: 69813

OVERVIEW

Experience professional empowerment. With over 1,200 stores throughout the U.S., designs to expand internationally, and a thriving E-Commerce platform, Ulta Beauty provides its merchandise associates the bandwidth needed to set new trends, identify potential, and take calculated risks. For professionals with an adventurous spirit who thrive in a collaborative context, who are energized by ambiguity and problem-solving, who want to experience the results of their efforts, and who are inspired by the recognition of superior performance—we encourage you to make all of it your own. Discover the possibilities of Ulta Beauty. And experience greater heights of professional success & personal satisfaction.

THE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE:

We are looking for a leader to drive the vision and strategy for Ulta Beauty’s Private Label business in both existing and new categories. This person needs to be a strategic thinker with the ability to embrace change and foster new opportunities to grow the business. As a visionary leader s/he will inspire and mentor a high performing team to drive innovative brand and product strategies. The VP, Merchandising Private Label will be responsible for driving new product development, negotiations with contract manufacturers, operational and sourcing functions and P&L management.

CORE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Vice President, Private Label Merchandising will be an inspirational focused leader, who will set the vision, gain alignment, influence the broader organization, and inspire the team around a shared vision.

Vision/Strategy Development & Execution

• Future-thinker creating a compelling vision for Ulta Beauty Collection and Private Label business using consumer research and insights to guide the vision and strategies
• Drives profitable sales and grows market share including increased penetration and margin
• Develops strong launch strategies, partners with marketing to improve awareness and guest acquisition and drives promo optimization
• Strong knowledge of the competitive landscape and future trends within product, packaging and manufacturing to drive UBC/Private Label forward
• Establishes and builds vendor partnerships to further improve product, packaging, sourcing and operational efficiencies [including speed to market]
• Ensures all operational and compliance expectations are followed and builds toward the future including elevating supplier standards, moving the brand towards global compliance and meeting our Conscious Beauty pillars: made without ingredients, cruelty-free, vegan and sustainable packaging
• Directs overall brand package design direction to ensure brand standards are maintained including overseeing team conducting trademark searches as needed

Financial Oversight

• In partnership with Finance and Planning, sets profit and sales objectives to meet financial plans
• Sales Growth strategy, P&L management (shrink, turn, inventory, etc.)
• Develops and manages KPI’s for success: (brand profitability, overhead budget, EBITA, CAPEX)
• Ability to make strategic and timely decisions and demonstrate good judgment
• Analyzes sales, feedback, and historical data to inform category strategies and product decisions
• Highly aware of the competitive market to identify and analyze trends while always staying abreast of competitor’s product selection strategies
• Drive Compelling Product Assortment
• Leads and grows the Private Label business through successful trend identification, developing strong partnerships with contract manufacturers and negotiating exclusive products/formulas
• Builds strategic, diligent, long-term and financially sound category plans
• Determines new product/ and assortments to support product differentiation while optimizing assortment across store and e-commerce channels

Negotiation Skills

• Ability to negotiate successfully with and across our vendors, leaders, and cross-functional partners to drive business outcomes
• Proven ability to negotiate and act as a critical influencer in driving profitability and market value
• Proactive and skilled negotiator with success in demonstrating strong communication, interpersonal skills, problem solving, and decision-making ability to influence successful negotiations

Collaboration / Influence

• Collaborates across teams to drive towards key company-wide strategic initiatives including Marketing, MP&I, Operations, E-Commerce, stores, and relevant enterprise partners
• Effectively partners with the planning group to create periodic sales goals and manage inventory and markdown budgets
• Defines success in terms of the whole Ulta Beauty team and shows how each person or department impact the greater good through shared contributions to goals
• Ability to quickly influence and establish relationships, gain credibility, trust and respect with peers, subordinates, senior executives and brand partners

Communication/Presentation Skills

• Demonstrates strong executive communication skills both written and verbal
• Executive presence is required
• Ability to communicate with influence while adapting communication style and content based upon audience level, style, and situation – while consistently remaining confident and credible
• Ability to present effortlessly to both large and small groups in varying settings (team initiatives, offsite events, leadership forums, etc.)

Coaching & Developing/Overall Leadership

• Provides leadership and strategic direction to the Private Label & Merchandising Team, and develops a high performing team
• Leads the team by supporting and coaching to ensure effective day to day execution to achieve business outcomes

Building and Driving Strong Culture

• Prioritizes team culture by making it a daily responsibility to champion and take the lead in building a positive culture
• Creates a respectful workplace by enlisting, empowering, and encouraging the team to demonstrate our values and to act as role models of our culture

THE ESSENTIALS FOR SUCCESS:

Qualified candidate will be a proven inspirational leader who has the ability to align and inspire the team around a common vision, innovative thinking, and delivering on business strategy. Experience working with a growth-oriented business, identifying trends, and driving sales.

• Proven experience developing and managing product from idea to execution
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Ability to quickly influence and establish relationships, gain credibility, trust and respect with peers, subordinates, senior executives and brand partners
• Experience managing large budget/P&L
• Proven ability to develop category/brand strategies
• Strong people management and team leadership required; demonstrating prioritization of self-development, direct report development, and encouraging leaders to prioritize career growth opportunities for their teams
• Culture driver- creates culture of inclusivity, placing emphasis on leading with values and ethics, and driving high standards of performance for the team
• Ability to approach the business from a creative point of view, as well as a strategic and analytical one
• College degree required
• 15+ years of leadership and merchandising and/or brand experience required
• Ability to travel
• Experience in beauty industry is a plus
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office/knowledge of SAP and SAP Hana a plus

ABOUT

At Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA), the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest North American beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skincare products, hair care products and salon services. We bring possibilities to life through the power of beauty each and every day in our stores and online with more than 25,000 products from approximately 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points, including Ulta Beauty’s own private label. Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store featuring—hair, skin, brow, and make-up services.

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.

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