KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Manager, Merchandising and Inventory Support is responsible for providing operational support to the Merchandising and Inventory Management teams, supporting key processes, systems, reporting, and providing training of best practices.

Job Responsibilities:

The scope of duties includes providing operational support for Planning, Forecasting, Replenishment, Allocation, Store Fulfilment, Vendor Income collection, Open to Buy, and Reporting.

• Manage direct reports, providing priorities, assignments and follow through of existing tasks, providing coaching and development opportunities
• Supports Merchandising and Inventory Management users with best practices and reporting while assigning tasks, communicating due dates, and ensuring their completion. Scope of duties support key merchandising and planning functions including Demand Planning, Forecasting, Store Fulfilment, Replenishment, Open to Buy, Monthly Vendor Income, Cost Updates, Clearance, Aged Inventory liquidation including data to provide accounting entries and other duties as assigned
• Oversee vendor income budget and forecasting process, ensuring the team collects and processes vendor deals used to support product selling margin, calculating deal values and submitting to Accounting for accrual and deduction. Provides reporting to track actuals vs. budget and ensures MS Access database or related systems are maintained to ensure there is no disruption to the month end close or reconciliation process
• Exhibits strong organization and time management skills, capable of monitoring, tracking, and escalating initiatives as needed to manage expectations. Escalates potential road-blocks and is effective at managing up when timelines are at risk.
• Supports new implementations and leads efforts to perform bug fixes, upgrades, and improvements. Provides feedback from UAT, testing, and deployments in DEV, TEST, and PROD environments. Coordinate timing and approval with key stakeholders
• Lead and conduct training, providing training materials and documentation support for Merchandising and Planning systems. Thoroughly document critical tasks related to the update process of existing reports and databases
• Supports team with processing and completion of transactions to update Merchandising and Planning systems including permission/role changes, item maintenance, mass maintenance to maintain parameter changes such as min/max quantities, store ranging decisions, initial model quantities, store transfers and other similar attributes
• Communicates effectively using written and verbal methods to inform end users of changes, system upgrades and system availability
• Collaborates and attends meetings with various stakeholders, sharing expert perspective on Inventory systems, process, data, and reporting
• Partners with IT Support to troubleshoot technical issues with daily reporting tools including Tableau, Excel VBA, MS Access VBA and other scripted procedures
• Builds strong team, cross-pollinating skills, documenting process and demonstrating agility to adapt to shifting priorities
• Other duties as assigned

About Guitar Center

The Guitar Center Company embodies the world of creativity and music by encouraging our teammates to find their own individual sound. Our mission is to develop and nurture lifelong musicians and make a difference in the world by enabling musicians and non-musicians alike to experience the joy that comes from creating music. We believe in putting our customers first, engaging with respect and integrity and fulfilling our mission with passion.

The Guitar Center Company operates through several business divisions. Guitar Center is the world's largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards, recording, live sound, DJ, and lighting equipment, with more than 290 stores across the United States. 2014 marked the milestone 50th anniversary of the Guitar Center Company as the organization continues to help people make music from coast to coast.

E-Commerce brands Guitar Center, Musician's Friend and WWBW offer online sales of a broad selection of music products. The Music & Arts division operates more than 220 stores specializing in band & orchestral instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors, and students since 1952. AVDG and GCPro headline the enterprise audio-visual integration business, delivering a best-in-class commercial and residential customer experience.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree is required, preferably in Business
• 2-5 years of relevant work experience in merchandising, inventory management, store operations, financial operations or similar operational support role
• 2-5 years of experience managing a department, small team, function, products, or projects.
• Basic knowledge of accounting practices related to accruals, credits, debits during the collection of vendor income
• Proficiency in MS office suite (Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Advanced level with MS Excel (Power Pivot, Pivot Tables, VBA, xlookup, sumifs, other Excel formulas, filtering, sorting, formatting)
• Experience in data mining using SQL, Excel PowerPivot, and building templates and dashboards in Tableau
• Advanced in computerized purchasing and inventory management systems, as well as PC-based spreadsheet analysis, statistics and database applications.
• Experience with current applications or equivalent experience is preferred including (o9 Solutions Open to Buy tool, SO99 Forecasting and Replenishment, JDA/MMS, Microsoft Dynamics, Tableau, VendorNet)
• Understands how the business works including key business drivers, important company strategies, competition, and financial data impacting the department/organization. Makes business decisions that support financial targets. Understands mathematical principles, economic fundamentals and business writing.
• Able to develop cooperation and teamwork while working with internal and external partners, working toward solutions which generally benefit all involved parties. Builds relationships with others by offering help and providing suggestions for improvement.
• Delegates both routine and significant tasks and decisions. Assesses employees' readiness and ability, and assigns tasks that are appropriate to their skill level. Follows up as needed and share both responsibility and accountability.
• Able to communicate through various means (verbal and written) with diverse people in a clear, concise, courteous, and professional manner. Demonstrates respect to others, surroundings, and self.
• Takes initative to identify opportunities & issues and follow through on work activities to capitalize or resolve them. Self-starter taking positive action without being requested to do so.
• Able to utilize time, energy, and resources to manage priorities, stay on track, and achieve goals. Establishes a systematic course of action to achieve an objective. Multitasks and pays strong attention to detail. Completes tasks thoroughly in a timely manner.
• Develops skills and capabilities of direct reports to ensure goals are met. Provides constructive & positive feedback, conducts performance appraisals, and provides learning and development opportunities.
• Able to develop and execute project plans that align with organizational objectives. Coordinates groups of individuals to maximize available knowledge and resources, and follows through to track progress and ensure timely completion. Identifies methods for improving existing processes, practices, and procedures.
• Able to navigate technology systems, equipment, and computer programs needed to fulfill communication, customer service, and business needs & expectations.

Pay Rate: $92,300- $120,400 / annually depending on background and experience.

The job posting is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific employee, which is always dependent on actual experience, education, and other factors. The pay range(s) listed are provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different in other locations

Guitar Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides fair and equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job‐related requirements.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website, you may request a reasonable accommodation to express interest in a specific opening. You can request reasonable accommodation by calling 1‐818-735-8800 ext. 2862 or by sending an email to recruiting@guitarcenter.com.

Why join us?

With a career at Guitar Center, you become part of the world's largest multichannel musical instrument retailer. Whether at our Stores, Contact Centers, Distribution Centers, or Support Center, Guitar Center employees have a common goal: to help people find their sound and fill the world with more music.

Love this gig and want to apply?

Send your resume and cover letter today along with salary expectations!

Guitar Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides fair and equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job‐related requirements.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website, you may request a reasonable accommodation to express interest in a specific opening. You can request a reasonable accommodation by sending an email to recruiting@guitarcenter.com.