Merchandising Strategic Lead (all genders)

at  zooplus SE

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

More than 20 years ago, zooplus was one of the first to bring the pet category into the world of eCommerce. Today, we stand strong as Europe’s leading online pet platform, delivering moments of happiness to more than 9 million pet parents each year.
We’re on a mission to create joy for pets and their parents, driven by our core values of Care, Courage, Openness, and Simplicity. At the heart of everything we do, they inspire us to grow, raise the bar for our customers and fuel a pet-first business.

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic CMO Strategy Lead to join the #1 European eCommerce retailer in the pet food industry, headquartered in Munich. As the CMO Strategy Lead, you will serve as a key strategic partner to the Chief Merchandising Officer (a member of the Executive Committee), driving critical initiatives across Vendor Management, Private Label Brands, Marketplace, and various support functions.
This role is essential to becoming the largest Pet Platform in Europe and one of the largest globally. You will have a direct impact on our strategy, execution, and the success of high-impact projects, with a strong focus on Private Label Brands.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: MBA or advanced degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field.
• Experience: 4-6 years of experience in strategic roles, ideally within a top-tier consulting firm, or a eCommerce/retail company, with a strong track record of leading complex projects and delivering measurable results.
• Analytical Skills: Proven ability to analyze data, develop insights, and apply them to drive strategic decision-making. Ability to balance data analysis with the need for swift action.
• Adaptive Leadership: Demonstrated ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances and pivot strategies as needed in a fast-paced environment and changing market conditions, particularly in a fast-paced eCommerce environment.
• Problem-Solving: Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills, with a pragmatic approach to overcoming challenges.
• Bias for Action: Ability to take decisive action and drive projects forward, even in the face of incomplete information. Proven examples where quick, pragmatic decisions led to successful outcomes.
• Communication: Strong track record of influencing stakeholders and driving cross-functional collaboration, ensuring alignment and buy-in for strategic initiatives.

• Strategic Leadership
• Work closely with the CMO and core teams to develop and execute a comprehensive optimization strategy for our Private Label Brands division, addressing challenges such as growth, profitability, and innovation.
• Help Identify and implement growth and profitability improvement opportunities and create actionable plans to accelerate performance, balancing cost management with value creation.
• Project Management
• Lead the planning, execution, and successful completion of strategic initiatives across the Merchandising function, with a focus on Private Label Brands. Ensure alignment with business objectives and timelines.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders across departments, including sales, operations, and finance, to drive project success and support the CMO in achieving the division’s goals.
• Analytical and Strategic Insights
• Analyze internal and external data to uncover insights that drive decision-making. Balance thorough analysis with a bias for action to ensure swift progress.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the success of turnaround efforts, growth strategies, and profitability improvements. Regularly review and adjust strategies based on these metrics.
• Change Management
• Lead change management efforts within CMO Area, ensuring that changes in personnel, processes, and strategies are implemented smoothly with minimal disruption.
• Effectively communicate and influence key stakeholders to gain support for strategic initiatives and change efforts.
• Executive Communication
• Develop high-quality executive communications, including reports and presentations for the leadership team and supervisory board. Provide clear, actionable insights to guide decision-making.