POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Merchant is responsible for developing a product assortment strategy and line plan for a complex product category that supports brand objectives and delivers on sales and profit targets. Collaborating closely with cross-functional partners, the Senior Merchant ensures departmental plans align with broader divisional and corporate financial goals. By leveraging a deep understanding of sales history and market trends, they drive successful business outcomes.

Throughout the season, the incumbent generates and analyzes financial reports to identify growth opportunities and mitigate risks, offering recommendations to optimize sales and reduce markdowns. Furthermore, the role expertly balances market trends with inventory management and product delivery, guiding key decisions on purchase quantities, sizing, color, and overall assortment strategy.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage and align category P&L strategies with overarching corporate financial initiatives to maximize business performance.
• Regularly analyze seasonal financial reports to proactively identify growth opportunities, mitigate risks, and optimize product and pricing strategies.
• Deliver a product assortment that maintains a cohesive brand point of view while meeting all business targets.
• Deepen the understanding of the target customer through concentrated profiling and consistent engagement analysis.
• Lead competitive patterning and qualitative research, translating runway shows and marketplace shifts into actionable product concepts.
• Spot untapped business opportunities and fill them with innovative, volume-driving ideas that differentiate the brand.
• Lead cross functional alignment for category across Production & Sourcing, Tech, Design, Planning & Allocation, eCommerce, Visual, Marketing, and Finance.
• Partner closely with the Merchandise Manager to provide high-level insights on assortment strategy and category direction.
• Actively mentor and develop the merchandising team, fostering a culture of leadership and professional growth.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor's Degree preferably in business, retail merchandising, or fashion merchandising
• Years of Experience: 7+ of progressively more significant merchant roles, in some combination of department and/or specialty retail, preferably apparel
• Achievement-oriented with strong management experience and demonstrated leadership potential
• Strong communication, presentation, negotiation, and influencing skills
• Proficient in problem-solving and conflict management
• Ability to think strategically, tactically, and rationally in challenging situations
• Strong fact-based and intuitive decision-making skills

CRITICAL SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

• Exceptional leadership capabilities with the ability to influence cross functional partners
• Ability to lead and inspire with unquestionable integrity and trust
• Strong mentoring and teaching skills to develop and retain talent