Commercial Director Modern Fashion

Location

Berlin

Contract

Full time

Job Category

Department: Fashion Store / Supply / Fashion

Reports to: GM Core Fashion

Team Size: 4 direct reports, 6 dotted lines, managing a team of 28 in total, and collaborating with the wider Zalando organisation.

**ABOUT THE TEAM**

The Modern Portfolio is one of the biggest assortment areas of Zalando, engaging more than 3.000 brands, and serving 25m loyal customers. We aim to create loyal customers by offering top-tier, sustainable wardrobe essentials with excellent value, boosting Zalando’s profitability.

Leveraging a comprehensive assortment strategy and commitment to sustainability and diversity, Modern is well-positioned for future growth in a market segment that comprises roughly 66% of European Fashion, aligning with Zalando's mission of shaping the fashion industry positively. Building on a strong base, Modern aims to further elevate the customer experience, expand market share, and strengthen partnerships. Key priorities include talent development, driving assortment efficiency, advancing diversity and sustainability, internationalization, all along expanding the platform business - in quality and reach.

The Modern team fosters an optimistic, innovative environment with collaborative, data-driven decision-making to drive results and react quickly. We focus on talent growth, motivation, coaching, and team spirit for the benefit of the team, Zalando, and our customers.

**ABOUT THE ROLE**

As Commercial Director Modern Fashion, reporting directly to the Vice President / GM of Core Fashion, you will own the customer & partner-centric agenda of the business, using your commercial expertise to drive revenue growth and market share. With your exceptional stakeholder management skills, you will collaborate with other teams in the Zalando platform ecosystem, and create mutually beneficial trust-based relationships with our most important suppliers - bringing the best of Zalando to our partnerships.

You will be responsible for leading the Buying team. Working in close collaboration with Merchandise Planning, Strategic Partner Management, Partner Go To Market, and ZMS, you will define the commercial ambition and supply vision for the category, as well as set the targets for the Modern Fashion platform business. You will lead trading, and own negotiations with key partners to deliver strong commercial and strategic impact. You will furthermore play a leading role in cross-departmental work, projects and partner-focused initiatives designed to further elevate the role of Modern Fashion at Zalando.

**WHAT WE’D LOVE YOU TO DO (AND LOVE DOING)**
- Commercial acumen: You will lead executive level negotiations with Modern partners, leveraging solid industry insights and experience to drive win-win-win outcomes for Zalando, our partners and our customers. You will support your team to set and deliver on commercial targets, integrating Zalando platform services into your plans and steering the business to achieve financial targets.
- Stakeholder Management: You will maintain a strong network with partners' organisations and enable structured and trust-based relationship management. Furthermore you will collaborate internally with multiple functions including Markets GMs, Business Finance, Marketing, Studios, ZEOS, and Platform Services to deliver cross-functional impact for the business.
- Strategic capability: You will create and deliver the commercial strategy, linking the Modern Fashion vision and project landscape with the Zalando Group Strategy, and our partners’ financial and strategic plans. You will furthermore lead strategic projects with a high commercial impact.
- Inspirational Leadership: You will foster a high-performing, entrepreneurial environment and inspire and support others on the journey to deliver our strategy and their career goals.

**WE’D LOVE TO MEET YOU IF**
- You are an authentic and inspiring commercial leader with a clear vision, decisive approach, and commitment to build, empower and coach a high-performing commercial team
- You have relentless drive and commitment to deliver ambitious targets in a dynamic, high-growth environment
- You possess a strong understanding of Fashion e-commerce fundamentals
- You are an adept negotiator who is commercially ambitious and focused on creating win-win situations
- You are a highly strategic and analytical thinker
- You have outstanding stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills
- You bring 10+ years experience working in Fashion Retail, eCommerce, Consumer Goods, or similar in a commercial leadership capacity

**OUR OFFER**
- Employee shares program
- 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Lounge by Zalando, discounts from external partners
- 2 paid volunteering days a year
- Hybrid working model with 60% remote per week, actual practice is up to each team to best support their collaboration
- Work from abroad for up to 30 working days a year
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