The ESG Merchandising Manager reports to the VP Planning | World of Brands and is responsible for driving revenue growth from sustainable and ethical products across Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman aligned with our Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) strategy. You will empower Merchants’ efforts to shop sustainable and ethical products, Merchandise Planning & Analytics’ efforts to track progress, and Marketing, Technology, and Store teams’ efforts to promote relevant merchandise to customers across Neiman Marcus Group’s omnichannel platform. You have merchandising experience, deep knowledge of social and environmental issues within luxury fashion, and demonstrable success leading innovative and cross-functional projects within a matrixed organization.

Responsibilities

Empower Merchants to Shop Sustainable & Ethical Products

• Maintain the list of accepted preferred product attributes and certifications that power Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman’s “Fashioned For Change” and “Conscious Curation” Edits for sustainable and ethical products
• Train merchandising teams to flag relevant products from existing brand partners and upload acceptable documentation
• Develop resources that help merchandising teams discover new relevant brand partners and products to onboard
• Engage merchants in industry partnerships with groups like Fashion Scholarship Fund, Textile Exchange, Responsible Business Coalition, Sustainable Fashion Forum, Global Fashion Agenda, Harlem Fashion Row, etc to increase representation of diverse-owned brands and reduce Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions from Purchased Goods & Services
• Collaborate with NMG’s Responsible Sourcing team to promote brand partners’ compliance with NMG’s Code of Conduct, Animal Welfare Policy, and vendor requirements for conducting business with NMG.
• Provide merchants with materials they can use to engage key brand partners and improve their sustainability performance

Help Merchandise Planning & Analytics Track Progress

• Create a consistent approach to monitoring and improving brand partners’ performance across banners (Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, etc) and divisions (RTW, Handbags, Shoes, Beauty, etc)
• Partner with Merchandise Planning & Analytics to audit flagged merchandise and ensure accuracy
• Develop new ways to improve and scale the way teams validate preferred product attributes and certifications
• Provide monthly analysis from Tableau to inform merchandising and marketing strategies, as well as internal and external corporate communications like NMG’s ESG disclosures

Work with Marketing, Technology, & Store Teams to Promote Relevant Merchandise

• Collaborate with Marketing teams to identify relevant brands and products to feature
• Advise on “Fashioned For Change” and “Conscious Curation” marketing campaigns and strategies to convert more conscious and multicultural consumers
• Implement efforts to promote sustainable and ethical products across NMG’s omnichannel retail platform, including digital selling platforms like NM Connect, and in-store execution with visual merchandising
• Partner with Store Training teams to ensure sales associates are knowledgeable on NMG’s ESG merchandising efforts and equipped to increase sales with new and loyal customers
• Maintain Nmg’s compliance with the Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides and other relevant regulations and legislation

Qualifications

• 3+ years of merchandising experience
• 3+ years of experience with social and environmental issues and certification programs within fashion, such as SBTi, GOTS, GRS, Blue Sign, Fair Trade, B Corps, 1% for the planet, NMSDC, OAR, etc.
• Success leading fast-paced innovative and cross-functional projects within a matrixed organization
• Capacity to make decisions and work through ambiguity with minimal oversight and direction
• High ethical standards and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Key Competencies

• Self-starter, operates with a high degree of independence and accountability in situations of ambiguity
• Weighs competing demands while maintaining a clear focus on Nmg’s overarching business priorities
• Drives business results through effective communication and interdepartmental collaboration
• Leverages data reporting and analysis to make decisions and influence others
• Resolves conflict in a direct manner while maintaining empathy
• Pursues innovation and continuous improvement
• Handles sensitive and confidential information

Additional Information

• Posting Date: Sep 20, 2022
• Overtime Status: Exempt