Accessories Director

Yamaha Careers•Buena Park, CA

17h•Hybrid

About The Position

This role exists to help establish the Music Connect Accessories function within YCA. It is a great opportunity to join the newly formed Music Connect Business Unit, which will help develop new accessories for musical instrument customers as an adjacent business and help provide experiential value that expands the enjoyment of sound and music. The primary responsibility of this role is to drive profitable growth and executional excellence in the Accessories Business by owning the end-to-end merchandising and assortment strategy; balancing customer demand, financial performance, and operational realities; aligning stakeholders; and delivering high-quality accessories that strengthen Music Connect and Yamaha.

Requirements

Progressive experience in merchandising or buying
Experience with budget planning
Demonstrated success in a highly matrixed and fast-paced environment
Demonstrated success in balancing and rapid switching between hands-on tactical and strategic work
Demonstrated success with identifying growth opportunities and achieving business outcomes
Demonstrated success working and influencing others in a high-volume, matrixed organization
Proficient in Microsoft Office with advanced PowerPoint and Excel skills
Yamaha Way (Will, Integrity, Initiative, Challenge, Commitment)
Customer Focus
Decision Quality
Plans and Aligns
Collaborates
Self-Development
Situational Adaptability
Analytics: Use data to inform marketing strategy and activities
Market Understanding: Understand competition and differentiation; conduct research about prospective customers
Product Development: Manage product design, development, and introduction as an integrated, holistic value chain
Product Marketing: Defines a product's target audience and develop buyer personas; prepares and recommends effective product positioning within the market and establishes product goal setting; develops a product's Go-To-Market strategy
Negotiation/Vendor Management: Gather and analyze data to understand root causes of issues and determine appropriate solutions
Project Management: Plan, organize, and manage tasks and resources to bring about successful completion of a specific project
Product knowledge: Has a great depth of product knowledge and can articulate the differences between own products and competitor products

Nice To Haves

7+ years of experience in merchandising or buying
Experience in the fashion or accessories industry
People Leadership
Experience working with a Japanese company

Responsibilities

Drive strategic direction for Accessories Business, ensuring alignment to Music Connect and YCA Strategies.
Drive achievement of Accessories Business and Music Connect goals and KPIs
Drive resolution of critical matters that impact Accessories Business
Drive a positive stakeholder experience across Music Connect, YCA and YCJ regions.
Drive an organizational culture that attracts, empowers, develops, retains and rewards employees who fit and enhance the defined culture.
Drive timely delivery of a high-quality accessories assortment
Drive alignment and execution of all initiatives within the Music Connect Accessories business
Own the end-to-end assortment planning process, including product mix, quantities, price, inventory levels, forecasting demand, markdowns and promotions
Ensure all necessary support functions and processes required to establish and operate this new business area are defined and embedded in the organization ensuring alignment with operational stakeholders across YCA and YCJ.
Design and lead the merchandising strategy, including goals, sales, margins, inventory targets
Product development and sourcing, including procurement process design and management, new product sourcing, supplier negotiations, and production timeline
Work cross-functionally to design cohesive product messaging, pricing strategies. online displays and in store product merchandising solutions.
Use market research, competitive analysis and customer buying trends to identify product opportunities

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Vision, Dental, LTD, Life-Insurance and 401k with match AND automatic contributions
Performance based bonus program
Robust employee wellness programs including free music lessons
Gym and wellness reimbursement program
Tobacco cessation reward program
Free concerts from award winning artists
Discounted hotel, travel, entertainment, and other attractions
Employee product purchase program
Flexible work options (including hybrid schedule)
Casual dress
Vacation, sick-time and personal floating holidays
In-office events, for example -- Bring Your Dog to Work Day, Employee Singing Competitions, Spirit Week and other fun events
Inclusive and passionate culture