NIKE, Inc

Lead Merchant, Licensed Apparel

NIKE, Inc • $110K — $130K *
Retail & Consumer Goods
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 6+ years of experience in merchandising, assortment planning, or product management
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, or related field
  • Demonstrated experience managing complex apparel/footwear portfolios
  • Strong grasp of marketplace strategies and retail fundamentals
  • Experience with licensed products or third-party licensing models is a plus
  • Excellent analytical and storytelling skills
  • Capability to balance consumer insights with financial objectives

Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement seasonal and long-term merchandising strategies
  • Create assortments that align with brand priorities and financial goals
  • Define product segmentation and architecture across channels
  • Translate insights into actionable merchandising strategies
  • Identify growth opportunities and emerging market trends
  • Drive initiatives related to seasonal launches and partnerships
  • Adjust strategies based on performance metrics and market insights

Benefits

  • Opportunity to influence strategic business partnerships
  • Collaboration with cross-functional teams and external partners
  • Engagement in high-impact projects and decision-making
  • Dynamic work environment within a leading global brand
  • Professional growth opportunities in a major industry sector
Full Job Description
Nike is seeking a Lead Merchant to drive the strategic vision, assortment creation, marketplace strategy, and licensed business growth for the Licensed Apparel portfolio. This role is responsible for developing consumer-right product assortments, influencing product creation, shaping marketplace architecture, and leading strategic partnerships with external licensees and marketplace partners.

The ideal candidate combines strong consumer intuition, merchandising expertise, and business acumen with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and external stakeholders. This individual will play a critical role in defining product strategies, identifying growth opportunities, and ensuring licensed assortments deliver both consumer impact and business results.

WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON

Lead Merchandising Strategy
  • Develop and execute seasonal and long-range merchandising strategies for the Licensed Apparel business.
  • Create consumer-right assortments that balance brand priorities, marketplace opportunities, and financial goals.
  • Define assortment architecture, product segmentation, and franchise strategies across multiple consumer and distribution channels.
  • Translate consumer insights, marketplace trends, and business performance into actionable merchandising strategies.
  • Identify whitespace opportunities and emerging trends to drive future growth.
  • Drive key business initiatives tied to seasonal launches, strategic partnerships, and event-driven opportunities.
  • Evaluate business performance and adjust strategies based on consumer and marketplace insights.

Lead Licensed Business Partnerships
  • Serve as the merchandising lead across strategic licensed business relationships, collaborating with third-party licensees.
  • Influence product strategy, assortment direction, and marketplace opportunities through collaborative business planning.
  • Establish strong working relationships that drive alignment, accountability, and shared business success.
  • Guide partners on seasonal product priorities, assortment strategies, and marketplace opportunities while ensuring brand consistency.
  • Represent the Licensed Apparel business during seasonal reviews and strategic planning discussions.
  • Identify opportunities to improve product differentiation, accelerate growth, and expand marketplace reach through strategic partnerships.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

  • 6+ years of merchandising, assortment planning, buying, product management, or related experience.
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience, and training.
  • Proven experience managing complex apparel and/or footwear portfolios.
  • Strong understanding of marketplace strategy, consumer segmentation, and retail fundamentals.
  • Experience working with licensed products, strategic partnerships or third-party licensing models preferred, but not required.
  • Strong analytical, storytelling, and presentation skills.
  • Ability to balance consumer, product, and financial considerations to drive business growth.


About NIKE, Inc

Nike is a sporting goods company that designs, develops, and markets footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessory products. The company offers various categories of shoes including running, training, basketball, soccer, sport-inspired urban shoes, and kids' shoes. It also provides shoes for aquatic activities, baseball, football, cheerleading, golf, lacrosse, outdoor activities, skateboarding, tennis, volleyball, walking, wrestling, and various athletic and recreational uses. In addition, the company offers sports-inspired lifestyle apparel, athletic bags, and accessory items. Further, it provides a line of performance equipment including bags, socks, sports balls, eyewear, timepieces, electronic devices, bats, gloves, protective equipment, golf clubs, and various equipment designed for sports activities under the NIKE brand name, as well as markets apparel with licensed college and professional team and league logos. Additionally, it offers licenses to produce and sell NIKE brand swimwear, children's apparel, training equipment, eyewear, electronic devices, and golf accessories. The company also markets its products under the brand names of Converse, Chuck Taylor, All Star, One Star, Umbro, Jack Purcell, Cole Haan, Bragano, and Hurley. It sells its products to retail accounts through stores, independent distributors, and licensees, as well as through its Website, nikestore.com. As of May 31, 2009, Nike, Inc. operated 338 retail stores in the United States and 336 retail stores internationally. The company was founded in 1964 and is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon.

Nike Careers

Join the dynamic world of Nike, Inc., a global leader in sports apparel and innovation, where your career can flourish in an environment that fosters diversity, leadership, and growth. At Nike, we believe in bringing out the best in our team members through continuous professional development and a culture that celebrates creativity and innovation. Work You’ll Do Become a part of Nike’s mission to inspire and innovate towards a better world. Engage in work that intersects with cutting-edge technology, market-leading strategies, and sustainable practices that define the future of the sports industry. Lead with us at the forefront of the global marketplace, where your skills in leadership, teamwork, and innovation can shine. Nike offers a unique position in the industry, combining deep industry expertise with a relentless pursuit of excellence. Collaborate with a diverse team of professionals who are pioneers in their fields. Nike, Inc. employs over 75,000 passionate and talented individuals worldwide, all dedicated to moving the world of sports forward. Introducing Nike’s Professional Growth and Development Opportunities We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every team member can succeed. Nike offers a variety of job opportunities, from in-store retail positions to corporate roles in design, marketing, and technology. Do Innovative Work Join us and contribute to our mission of bringing inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world. (*If you have a body, you are an athlete.) Deliver targeted solutions and drive innovation through your unique perspective and skills. At Nike, Inc., your work directly contributes to our global impact. Be Part of a Great Team Engage in meaningful work that connects with consumers and impacts millions worldwide. Our team benefits from unparalleled capabilities, a commitment to diversity training, and a culture that encourages professional growth and networking. Future-Proof Your Career Advance your career with Nike’s comprehensive benefits and support systems. We provide extensive training, development programs, and leadership courses to help you reach your full potential. Explore Discover how Nike is leading in sustainable innovation and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the sports industry. The Nike Employment Experience Our combined efforts in innovation, culture, and leadership make Nike, Inc. not just a place to work, but a place to grow a rewarding career. Clients and employees alike look to Nike for new strategies and impactful solutions in a rapidly evolving industry. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search for open positions that match your skills and interests. We are always on the lookout for curious, driven, creative, and solution-oriented team players. SEARCH NIKE JOBS Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, the latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Explore the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at Nike, Inc.
Learn more about NIKE, Inc
Size
73,300 employees
Market Cap
$184.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
$2.8 billion
Founded
1964
5 Year Trend
+6.3%
Revenue
$38.2 billion
NASDAQ

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