NIKE, Inc

Lead Merchant, Training Mens Apparel

NIKE, Inc$100K — $130K *
Retail & Consumer Goods
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in merchandising or related field, or equivalent experience
  • 5+ years in Merchandising, Buying, or Product Management
  • Apparel experience preferred
  • Proven ability to develop strategic visions from consumer insights
  • Experience leveraging trend insights for consumer needs
  • Strong collaborative leadership and communication skills
  • Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced setting
  • Expertise in line planning, assortment strategy, and seasonal readiness

Responsibilities

  • Build Men's Training assortments based on athlete missions and market opportunities
  • Lead with a consumer-first approach for strategic product decisions
  • Develop comprehensive product strategies balancing various stakeholder inputs
  • Collaborate with Product and Design teams to drive innovative outcomes
  • Mentor teammates and serve as an advocate for Men's Training Apparel
  • Guide Assortment Architecture through line-planning and lifecycle management
  • Create product lines that achieve revenue and margin goals
  • Monitor business health and provide actionable insights for strategy adjustments

Benefits

  • Access to professional development and mentorship programs
  • Health and wellness programs, including gym memberships
  • Flexible work hours and remote work options
  • Employee discounts on products and services
  • Collaborative and dynamic work environment
Full Job Description
WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH

This role partners closely with Global Training Merchants (Men's Apparel, Women's Apparel, Footwear, Direct), Geo Training Merchants, Global X-Sport Merchants, and cross-functional partners across Product, Design, Planning, Marketing, Analytics, Finance, and Nike Direct.

You will report directly to the Director of Merchandising, Men's Global Training Apparel and will partner heavily with the Sr. Merchant, Men's Global Training Apparel to drive the future of Men's Training.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We're seeking a highly visible, strategic merchant who will elevate Men's Training through best-in-class assortments, tools, processes, and cross-functional partnerships. This leader brings an enterprise mindset, thrives in ambiguity, and consistently delivers clarity, alignment, and results.

A successful candidate will demonstrate:
  • Bachelor's degree in merchandising or a related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training.
  • 5+ years of experience in Merchandising, Buying, Product Management
  • Apparel experience preferred, but not required
  • Proven ability to set strategic vision and translate consumer, competitive, and business insights into compelling end-in-mind assortments
  • Experience monitoring and applying trend insights to serve the consumer
  • Enterprise mindset with deep integrity and consumer-first vision
  • Strong communication skills and collaborative leadership
  • Ability to balance multiple projects and timelines in a fast-paced environment
  • Experience in line planning, assortment strategy and seasonal readiness
  • Excellent presentation and communication skills
  • Strong attention to detail and operational rigor


WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON

Global Training is the engine that fuels Athlete* dreams, serving Athletes* as they Prime, Train, and Recover for Sport. As Lead Merchant, you will shape the future of Men's Training Apparel through strategic vision, consumer obsession, and marketplace excellence.

You will:
  • Build End-in-Mind Men's Training assortments across Global and Geo, rooted in athlete mission, consumer segmentation, and marketplace opportunity
  • Lead with a strong consumer-first mindset, ensuring every decision ladders up to Training's long-range plan and marketplace needs
  • Develop short, mid, and long-term product strategies balancing hindsight, foresight, and key stakeholder input
  • Blend art and science with Product, Design, Planning, to deliver game-changing results
  • Mentor teammates and serve as a key X-Sport ambassador for Men's Training Apparel


Responsibilities will include:

Assortment Architecture & Franchise Leadership
  • Managing and guiding Men's Training Apparel Assortment Architecture via Line-planning and Franchise Lifecycle Management. Franchise focuses: 24.7, Unlimited, Primary, Flex, Form.
  • Obsessing the Athlete* to create Modality-Led, end-in-mind assortments for Men's Training Apparel that capture market-share & mindshare.


Financial Ownership, Business Insights
  • Creating a product line that drives sustainable, productive growth
  • Meeting and exceeding Style, Revenue, Margin targets
  • Managing key financial levers including Productivity, Margin, IMU/SMU, Product Forecasting
  • Monitoring business health via Midsight and Hindsight recapping, distilling clear, actionable insights for the cross-functional team that can be converted into actionable future strategy


Marketplace, Geo, and Channel Strategy
  • Partnering with Geo's (NA, EMA, APLA, GC) and Accounts (ex: Sporting Goods, Athletic Speciality, Department Stores, Nike Direct) to balance harmonized Global POV's with Geo-specific and channel-specific nuance and opportunities
  • Building differentiated strategies that reflect consumer behaviour, marketplace dynamics, and competitive landscape


Innovation And Future Franchise Creation
  • Identifying whitespace opportunities and competitive gaps, informed by business insights, key stakeholder input, brand strategy, and competitive research
  • Partnering with Product & Design to shape future franchise creation and long-term innovation pipelines


Operational Excellence, Elevating Tools
  • Elevating communications, tools, processes, reports, presentations
  • Leading and contributing at Key CODE milestones to drive marketplace adoption across Geo and Channel
  • Ensuring readiness across seasonal gates and cross-functional workflows


Leadership & Collaboration
  • Driving alignment across Training (Men's Apparel, Women's Apparel, Footwear)
  • Driving alignment across Geographics (NA, EMEA, APLA, GC)
  • Mentoring Men's Training Apparel team and broader Training team

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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