Role Overview:

As a Retail Merchandising Manager within Strategy & Consulting, you will partner with leading global retailers to drive merchandising transformation, category growth, inventory optimization, assortment planning, and retail operating model improvements. You will lead strategic engagements focused on enhancing profitability, customer experience, and business performance through data-driven merchandising and retail analytics solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

- Lead merchandising strategy engagements for global retail and e-commerce clients.

- Drive assortment planning, category management, space planning, pricing, promotions, and replenishment initiatives.

- Analyze retail KPIs, customer behavior, market trends, and competitive landscapes to identify growth opportunities.

- Develop strategic recommendations to improve sales, margins, inventory productivity, and customer satisfaction.

- Design future-state merchandising operating models and business processes.

- Lead business transformation programs across merchandising, supply chain, and store operations.

- Collaborate with client stakeholders to define business requirements, use cases, and implementation roadmaps.

- Manage large consulting workstreams and cross-functional teams across multiple geographies.

- Conduct data analysis using SQL, Alteryx, Excel, Power BI, or similar tools to generate actionable insights.

- Support business development activities, proposal creation, thought leadership, and client presentations.

- Mentor consultants and analysts while driving capability development within the retail practice.

Must-Have Skills:

- Deep understanding of Retail Merchandising and Category Management.

- Expertise in at least two of the following: Merchandising, Assortment Planning, Supply Chain, Forecasting & Replenishment, Store Operations, Space Planning.

- Strong knowledge of retail business processes and KPIs.

- Experience in retail consulting, retail analytics, or retail transformation programs.

- Hands-on experience with SQL, Alteryx, MS Access, or other data analysis tools.

- Strong stakeholder management and client-facing consulting experience.

- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and presentation skills.

Preferred Skills:

- Experience with Retail Planning and Merchandising platforms such as SAP Retail, Blue Yonder (JDA), Oracle Retail, Relex, SymphonyAI, Infor.

- Knowledge of Power BI, Python, R, or SAS.

- Experience in retail data management and business intelligence initiatives.

- Understanding of digital commerce, customer analytics, and retail media.

Qualifications:

- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Retail Management, Supply Chain, or related discipline.

- MBA from a reputed institute preferred.

- 8-12 years of experience in Retail Consulting, Merchandising, Category Management, Retail Analytics, or Retail Operations.

- Experience working with global retailers across Grocery, Fashion, Apparel, Consumer Goods, Home Solutions, or General Merchandise segments.