Head of Product Category, Watches & Jewellery

Where passion meets opportunity The best of your adventures is the one you have yet to sail! Your Purpose The Head of Watches Jewelry Product Category is the global business owner for the Watches Jewelry category across MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys. The role is responsible for defining and executing the global category strategy, driving commercial performance, developing a world-class assortment, and building long-term partnerships with leading watch and jewelry maisons. Working closely with Retail Operations, Planning Budget, and Supply Chain, this role ensures the category delivers exceptional guest experiences while maximizing sales, profitability and brand equity across all ships. The position combines strategic category management with strong commercial leadership to continuously elevate the onboard retail offering across both contemporary and luxury environments. Your Impact Category Strategy Business Ownership Own the global Watches Jewelry category strategy across MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys. Define the long-term category vision aligned with the commercial objectives and positioning of each cruise brand. Identify emerging trends, market opportunities and guest expectations to continuously evolve the category. Build a balanced portfolio across fine jewelry, fashion jewelry, luxury watches, contemporary watches and exclusive collections. Develop category roadmaps supporting future fleet expansion, new concepts and new brand introductions. Commercial Performance Deliver category sales, gross margin and profitability targets. Monitor category performance through KPI analysis, identifying opportunities and corrective actions. Optimize product mix, pricing architecture, promotional activities and inventory productivity. Lead forecasting and assortment planning in collaboration with Demand Planning and Order Management teams. Drive continuous improvement of productivity per SKU, per brand, per boutique and per vessel. Product Development Assortment Management Curate compelling assortments adapted to guest demographics, regions, itineraries and ship profiles. Develop exclusive products, capsule collections and cruise-only editions with strategic partners. Manage the full product lifecycle from selection and onboarding to phase-out. Ensure assortment reflects market trends while preserving a coherent brand architecture. Balance innovation with proven commercial performers. Brand Partnerships Develop and manage relationships with global watch and jewelry brands. Lead commercial negotiations including trading terms, exclusivities, product launches and joint business plans. Identify and onboard new brands aligned with the Group retail strategy. Coordinate supplier performance reviews and continuous business development initiatives. Represent MSC Group during industry events, trade fairs and partner meetings. Merchandising Retail Excellence Define merchandising guidelines specific to the Watches Jewelry category. Collaborate with Visual Merchandising to create premium boutique experiences that enhance conversion and storytelling. Support newbuilds, refurbishments and boutique redesigns from a category perspective. Ensure collections are presented according to luxury brand standards and visual excellence. Partner with onboard teams to continuously improve category execution. Cross Functional Collaboration Partner closely with Retail Operations to maximize onboard commercial execution. Work with Planning and Order Management to ensure optimal inventory availability while minimizing excess stock. Partner with Performance to monitor category profitability and investment performance. Interface with cross-functional departments and stakeholders to ensure optimal coordination, communication, alignment and execution across the organization. Leadership Lead and develop the Watches Jewelry merchandising team. Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration and commercial excellence. Coach team members and support succession planning. Encourage data-driven decision making while maintaining strong customer and brand focus. Your Journey so far 10+ years of experience in luxury watches and/or jewelry merchandising. Proven success managing international product categories within luxury retail, travel retail or omnichannel environments. Strong experience in assortment planning, buying, supplier negotiations and category management. Experience working with internationally recognized watch and jewelry brands. Experience in luxury retail or travel retail environments is highly desirable Your Essentials Deep understanding of luxury watches and jewelry markets, trends and consumer behavior. Strong commercial and financial acumen with excellent analytical skills. Proven ability to negotiate and build long-term strategic supplier partnerships. Excellent understanding of merchandising principles, assortment architecture and inventory optimization. Strong project management and organizational skills. Ability to work across multicultural and international environments. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. Passion for luxury retail and delivering exceptional guest experiences. Willingness to travel internationally. Our commitment We are committed to building a future that values diverse perspectives, embraces the world beyond borders, and fosters an inclusive environment where every individual feels valued, respected and empowered to be their authentic selves. Our commitment extends to taking meaningful, measurable actions that have a long-term positive impact on our guests, our employees and our planet. #J-18808-Ljbffr