Director of Engineering, Technology Merch Planning - Hybrid - Seattle
Seattle, WA 98101, United States of America
Are you passionate about revolutionizing Merchandising and leveraging technology, including Machine Learning (ML), to optimize one of the largest investment areas at Nordstrom? Nordstrom, an innovative and customer-focused fashion retailer, is seeking an experienced and innovative Director of Technology in Merch Planning domain to join our team. This leader will be responsible for overseeing the strategy, technical engineering, software development, and application of Nordstrom's Merchandising technology stack, focusing on improving business profitability and inventory productivity by partnering closely with the data science organization to build applications that utilize analytics and ML to automate decisions.
Reporting to Nordstrom's VP, Technology for Merchandising, this person will lead a team of engineers and collaborate closely with the data science organization to drive the development and implementation of ML-driven Integrated Merchandising solutions. The ideal candidate is a pragmatic leader who can effectively establish a roadmap, framing short-term wins that ladder up to a broader strategy, with a strong emphasis on partnering with the data science organization to create ML-driven decision automation applications.
This role will be based in Seattle.
A day in the life…
Deliver Outcomes: Oversee the development and implementation of merchandising technology solutions, including Financial Planning, Assortment Planning, Selection, and Procurement, focusing on improving Product Margin and assortment productivity at Nordstrom through ML-driven decision automation and focus on integrated merchandising solutions rather than silos.
Build Trust: Partner with the executive team and senior leadership in the business, engineering, UX, and data science to establish a multi-year technology roadmap focused on outcomes aligned with organizational priorities, emphasizing the partnership with the data science organization to create analytics and ML-driven decision automation applications.
Think Strategically: Identify and evaluate solutions, vendor partners, and the ability to build, develop, and execute a clearly articulated and pragmatic technology roadmap, anticipating complex issues, challenges, and opportunities for both current and future merchandising capabilities.
Drive Vision: Develop data-driven recommendations for optimizing assortment at Nordstrom, considering factors such as cost, lead times, customer requirements, market forces, emerging technology, and sustainability, using analytics and ML-driven decision automation applications in partnership with the data science organization.
Make Informed Decisions: Foster a problem-solving culture that empowers and enables leaders to identify and resolve issues promptly and effectively, leveraging analytics and ML-driven decision-making in collaboration with the data science organization.
Focus on Organization Efficiency: Forecast long-range talent and organizational structure needs, aligning capabilities with the broader enterprise strategy, with a focus on building a strong engineering team that can partner effectively with the data science organization.
Communicate Effectively: Champion the technology roadmap and broader functional strategy, creating a compelling vision that inspires teams, senior leaders, and external stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of partnering with the data science organization to create analytics and ML-driven decision automation applications.
Manage Risks & Constraints: Navigate through the organization to ensure work is resourced and barriers are removed for teams to properly execute strategic priorities, with a focus on data-driven decision-making and ML-driven automation in collaboration with the data science organization.
Change Leader: Manage strategy and change management based on strong business cases, ROI, and long-term organizational goals, utilizing analytics and ML-driven decision automation applications in partnership with the data science organization.
Build High Impact Teams: Build and develop a high-performing team, promoting an environment that encourages diversity in styles, perspectives, and experience, with a focus on strong engineering capabilities and effective collaboration with the data science organization.
Stay Relevant: Monitor and identify industry standards/trends, adjusting Nordstrom's technology roadmap and capabilities, accordingly, ensuring the incorporation of the latest analytics tools, ML-driven decision automation, and collaboration with the data science organization.
You own this if you have…
10+ years of experience in Merchandising, Inventory, or Supply Chain engineering at a retail, technology, or other eCommerce company with a complex supply chain or National store footprint
Experience with implementation of best in class third party Merchandising solutions such as O9, Toolio, SAP Retail, Anaplan, Oracle Retail Planning & Optimization or similar solutions.
5+ years of experience leading and developing engineering teams.
Proven ability to apply data science to solve real-world inventory problems and ability to frame solutions appropriately to win support and commitment from others, including executive leaders.
Experience identifying current network inefficiencies and develop insights / actions related to vendor partnership, service, cost, and sustainability to deliver improved operations.
Previous experience leading teams through change and experience running an outcome driven approach to roadmaps and stakeholder and team alignment.
Ability to define, measure and analyze processes to identify improvement opportunities.
Proven ability to work cooperatively with others across the organization, at all levels, to achieve shared objectives.
Effective communication in a variety of settings, including one-on-one, small and large groups, and among diverse styles and position levels.
(preferred) Bachelors’ degree in math, statistics, finance, economics, or related quantitative discipline
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We’ve got you covered…
Our employees are our most important asset and that’s reflected in our benefits. Nordstrom is proud to offer a variety of benefits to support employees and their families, including:
Medical/Vision, Dental, Retirement and Paid Time Away
Life Insurance and Disability
Merchandise Discount and EAP Resources
A few more important points...
The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive. There may be additional duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this job.
Nordstrom conducts background checks and considers qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.
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Pay Range Details
The pay range(s) below has been provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different for other locations.
Pay offers are dependent on the location, as well as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
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