Director, Global Center of Excellence

Role Overview

• Define and deliver the global Merchandising training and capability strategy with the Head of Global Merchandising Excellence.
• Build and manage the annual Merchandising Training Plan and budget, including setting annual learning requirements, training schedules, monthly forums, and on‑demand training.
• Plan, organize, and facilitate learning & development programs; measure training effectiveness and continuously improve the learning infrastructure.
• Partner with Global Merchandising, Business Units (BU) and cross‑functional leaders to identify skill, process, and capability gaps.
• Integrate new Merchandising tools, processes, and ways of working into Category Management into training curricula.
• Collaborate with Global HR to support Emerging Leaders and other corporate programs.
• Enable sharing of best practices and insights across regions and teams, and facilitate change management efforts for critical Merchandising initiatives.
• Identify job profiles and core competencies for the Category Management and Merchandising functions.
• Support onboarding and new‑hire training.
• Maintain relationships with internal and external partners, industry experts, and vendors to keep training programs current and in alignment with company strategy.
• Develop and maintain end‑to‑end process documentation for Merchandising, establishing a governance framework with clear ownership and accountability.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to one direct report responsible for executing ongoing training and development programs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, Retail Management, or related field; Master’s or certifications are an asset.
• 7–10 years of experience in Category Management, Merchandising, or related roles, with demonstrated success in executing category and/or merchandising strategies.
• Experience designing and delivering training programs, workshops, or presentations in a formal learning, onboarding, or internal development capacity.
• Good understanding of talent management, succession planning, training methodologies, and organizational development practices.
• Proficiency in applying appropriate training and change management frameworks tailored to project needs.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior executive leadership and cross‑functional teams to drive organization‑wide change.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex concepts into compelling training materials or presentations.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint, and familiarity with SharePoint and other learning or communication platforms.
• Experience managing, mentoring, and developing team members.
• Flexibility to work across global time zones.
• Ability to travel up to 15% of time, including internationally; valid passport and travel documentation required.

Benefits

• Professional development opportunities
• Annual Merchandising Training Plan
• Flexible work environment
• Mentorship programs