Duties

The Merchandise Manager is responsible for the overall buying and merchandise planning for the visual merchandising for the CVC's Retail Division.

The individual selected for this position will:

Merchandise Management

Manage and oversee the procurement of merchandise into the CVC Gift Shops. Manages all merchandising functions including buying, assortment plan, product development, merchandising and visual merchandising.

Collaborates with Gift Shops Operations Manager, Ecommerce Manager and senior leadership to develop the product assortment, merchandising and visual display plan for the gift shops and ecommerce shop.

Reviews financial reports, forecasts, and trends and takes appropriate actions necessary for reaching established goals and improve long-term profitability. Participates in planning annual budget and sales goals.

Plans and manages inventory levels by utilizing the point-of-sale (POS) reporting system including the auto-replenishment process.

Ensures pricing strategy, item price changes, and proper input of pricing are conducted. Oversees product ticketing requirements. Manages markdown process in accordance with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Collaborates with the Director of Retail to create short and long-term strategic plans to meet financial goals. Leverages opportunities to improve profit dollars/margins within the mission of the CVC and regulatory confines. Collaborates with Operations Manager on cycle counts, inventory shrinkage, shipping and receiving discrepancies.

Provides supervision to a group of employees performing buying and merchandising work.

Merchandise Planning

Manages and oversees the merchandise selection, buying and procurement process of all merchandise in the CVC Retail division.

Develops and manages, with other stakeholders, the CVC Retail Division merchandise plan to ensure the shops and the ecommerce site have the appropriate product assortment and stock levels to provide the visitors with a quality experience through delivery of consistent service standards and operational readiness. Establishes and approves pricing strategy and liquidation plan.

Collaborates with Ecommerce Manager on product selection, presentation and marketing for the ecommerce shop and calendar of events.

Manages the development and execution of purchase orders (PO) to ensure proper replenishment of merchandise. Plans product assortment and merchandising direction for the CVC Retail division, ensuring the product mix meets the needs of visitors and the financial objectives for the CVC Retail division while following regulatory requirements.

Leverages current sales data and experience to develop detailed sales projections for products from SKU to division or theme level.

Develops and maintains the open to buy process in coordination with budget planning.

Use of Computer Software Application

Uses various types of off the shelf and proprietary software programs to perform merchandising functions.

Utilizes specialized point of sale systems for inventory and merchandise management and reporting functions.

Coordinates with stakeholders and subject matter experts to identify, plan, and implement systems improvements, workforce scheduling, and quality control functions.

Monitor systems operations and processes for quality, accuracy, and conformance to changes in precedents, processes, authorities, and guidelines.

Liaison Activities

Collaborates with the Operations Manager for planning and executing physical inventories; with internal business partners and departments on overall CVC initiatives; and with others in developing and implementing strategic plans for merchandise mix changes, product placement changes, promotions, and special events.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• You must be able to pass a drug test.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.

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Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications .

Specialized experience: is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

Candidates for the GS-11 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-09) grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes:

• Management level experience leading a team and providing leadership in buying/merchandising environment.
• Buying, developing sales forecasts, budgets, and financial planning for a retail business.
• Developing a product assortment plan for a retail business.
• Accountability for creating and managing budgets, sales projections, and financial results for a retail business.

Candidates for the GS-12 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-11) grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes:

• Management level experience leading a team and providing leadership in buying/merchandising environment.
• Buying, developing sales forecasts, budgets, and financial planning for a retail business.
• Developing a product assortment plan for a retail business.
• Accountability for creating and managing budgets, sales projections, and financial results for a retail business.
• Leading the visual merchandising plan for a retail business.

There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position.

Education

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Additional information

Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp#6 .

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC's suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide, and cover the cost for the drug test.

The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.

The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm

The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, genetic information, sexual orientation and/or disability.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

Moving expenses are not authorized.

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

Probationary Period- Selectee(s) is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol.
All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.