Regional Director, Apparel and Accessories

Are you ready to make a significant impact on product strategy and market presence for a globally recognized brand? Our client is seeking an exceptional leader to shape their regional offerings, drive profitable growth, and ensure their products deeply resonate with diverse consumer bases. In this pivotal role, your vision and strategic execution will directly influence market success, contribute significantly to long-term brand objectives, and inspire teams to achieve new heights. Get ready to leave your mark and redefine what's possible!

You will be at the forefront of translating global product visions into regionally relevant strategies, directly influencing consumer engagement and market share. This role is about more than just managing; it's about leading with intuition, fostering collaboration across diverse teams, and championing products that truly connect with people. You will be instrumental in crafting compelling seasonal stories, optimizing financial performance, and nurturing a high-performing team.

**What You'll Do:**

**Drive Regional Product Strategy:** Execute and adapt global product strategies to align with regional market dynamics and consumer preferences, ensuring brand consistency and commercial success.

**Generate Market & Consumer Insights:** Lead comprehensive analysis of regional trends, consumer behavior, and competitive landscapes to inform critical product decisions and strategic direction.

**Oversee Product Localization:** Collaborate with regional design, marketing, and cross-functional teams to develop and launch compelling seasonal product lines that reflect local nuances and opportunities.

**Ensure Financial Success:** Achieve and exceed regional financial targets, partnering with planning teams to optimize revenue, margin, and sell-through, while meticulously managing the regional merchandising budget.

**Manage In-Season Performance:** Lead dynamic in-season business analysis, identifying opportunities for agile responses to market demands and guiding future product development.

**Cultivate Team Excellence:** Recruit, develop, and mentor a high-performing regional merchandising team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

**Uphold Brand & Product Integrity:** Partner closely with global product and production teams to maintain brand and product integrity across regional design, manufacturing, quality, and cost.

**Champion Cross-Functional Collaboration:** Drive seasonal direction and product storytelling by collaborating seamlessly with regional and global cross-functional teams, building brand loyalty.

**Provide Strategic Reporting:** Deliver regular updates on regional product performance, market trends, and consumer insights, actively contributing to global strategy development.

**What You'll Bring:**

* 10+ years of progressive experience in retail merchant or buying roles.

* Bachelor's degree in Business, Commerce, Fashion Merchandising, or a related field.

* Mastery of retail mathematics and Open to Buy principles.

* Demonstrated success in launching and scaling new business units or brands, with experience managing multi-million dollar businesses.

* Exceptional analytical skills, including the ability to interpret diverse data points across numerous channels and market segments.

* Extensive vertical retail and omni-channel experience.

* Proven ability to effectively lead and collaborate with cross-functional teams.

* A keen sense of style and a deep understanding of color trends.

* Outstanding communication skills-interpersonal, written, and verbal-to inspire and influence.

* An entrepreneurial mindset, with the confidence to make decisions and take calculated risks.

* A relentless focus on creating an extraordinary customer experience.

* Superior organizational and time management abilities.

* 3+ years of experience managing direct reports and leading large-scale teams.

* Proficiency in managing team budgets.

* Strong knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook).

* Self-awareness and a strong desire for constant self-improvement, with a goal-oriented approach.

**About Aquent Talent:**

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands. Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

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