rue21 Looking for Director of Strategic Initiatives at Greater Pittsburgh Region Full Time

Company Description
At rue21, we believe fashion should be fun and accessible to all. As a leading specialty retailer, we’re different, we’re unique—just like you. rue21 combines a shopping experience designed to fit the individuality of our customers with a community to foster love, advocate change and empower each other through what we wear and what we do. Join our team and be #YOUinrue.
Job Description
Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, the Director of Strategic Initiatives serves the business by driving strategy, analysis, and execution oversight of enterprise initiatives at rue21. The Director will collaborate closely with the executive leadership team and cross-functional department leads to prioritize business needs and related resource planning, and ensure that teams drive progress aligned to overall company objectives. The ideal candidate will employ a balance of strategic, analytical, and organizational skills to identify business improvement opportunities, and effectively plan and drive end-to-end program management of those initiatives.
Responsibilities
What will a day in the life look like as our Director of Strategic Initiatives? Below is just a small sample of the contributions this key role will do to support our business.

• Partner with executive leadership team in strategic planning process, developing strategic roadmap and resource plans that support organizational objectives. Provide oversight and executive level reporting of overall initiative portfolio.
• Ability to effectively design, gain alignment and successfully execute significant enterprise level programs and change initiatives from project start to finish.
• Responsibilities to include program documentation preparation, meeting facilitation, communicating regular updates, and proactively triaging progress to ensure expected outcomes are achieved.
• Create frameworks, tools, and processes that drive productivity, provide visibility to performance, risks and opportunities, and foster accountability to results.
• Perform internal and external research and benchmarking to inform proposals and plans that drive growth opportunities, operational efficiencies, and other competitive advantages.
• Gather data and information from cross-functional partners, analyze for process improvement and other opportunities to improve business productivity, and prepare recommendations to leadership team.

Qualifications
Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, or a related field. Advanced degree such as an MBA is preferred but not required.
• Minimum 10+ years’ experience in the retail industry, managing complex and large-scale initiatives. Background in management consulting or other professional services environment is also preferred.
• PMP certification is strongly preferred; superb project and time management skills and the ability to organize and assist team members in the prioritization of workload.
• Requires excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, highly proficient in rapid situational assessments and presenting insights for action, across a diverse range of departmental applications including interpretation of financial statements and analysis.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to lead meetings at executive level.
• Self-motivated with critical attention to detail, highly collaborative, and uncompromising in delivering a best-in-class experience.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively influence and manage high-performing teams and interact with individuals at all levels throughout the company.

Additional Information
What’s in it for you!
Competitive compensation and bonus plan
Comprehensive Benefit Package

• Generous PTO offerings
• 401K Retirement Plan with company match
• Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage
• Company sponsored Life Insurance
• Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Account/Dependent Care
• Employee Assistance Program – Confidential support programs for associates and families

Employee Discounts

• 40% off full price merchandise in stores and on-line
• Perks at Work – Savings program on brands, travel, dining, and more

This summary of benefits is reflective of a range of those available and may not apply to all employees.