Assistant Merchandiser

Position Overview:

As the Assistant Merchandiser, you will be responsible for leading the product lifecycle, from initial concept through final sales execution. This includes managing the development calendar, executing merchandising and digital strategies, ensuring profitability through pricing and margin management, and maintaining a consistent brand image. You will serve as the central hub, collaborating with design, sales, planning, sourcing, and management to ensure a unified vision and drive market success.

Responsibilities:

• Strategy & Profitability: Execute seasonal line plans and merchandising strategies to build profitable assortments that meet internal margin goals. Manage national marketing strategies to finalize pricing and margins in collaboration with Sales, Planning, Sourcing, and Management.
• Product Development Management: Oversee and maintain the design calendar and development process to ensure timely completion of all products. Interface with all functional areas of the business (design, sales, sourcing, marketing) to maintain a common vision for the brand.
• Digital & Selling Tools: Drive the implementation and execution of digital merchandising strategies utilizing tools like 3D and NuOrder. Strategically develop compelling selling tools to enhance all digital presentations to customers.
• Leadership & Collaboration: Collaborate closely with the Design Director to monitor assortments and maintain a consistent brand image. Attend market appointments with accounts to present brand strategy and designs. Selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates direct reports, encouraging proper growth and development of Assistant/Associate Merchandisers.
• Financial Oversight: Attend market appointments with accounts to present brand strategy and designs. Responsible for creating and adhering to annual budgets for samples and travel.

Qualifications:

• Experience: 1-3 years of professional merchandising experience is required.
• Education: A Bachelor's Degree in Business or Merchandising (or equivalent experience from a Design school) is required, though more years of professional experience can compensate.
• Analytical Skills: Proficiency in Retail Math, best seller analysis, and competitive landscape analysis.
• Core Knowledge: Deep knowledge of the product development process and brand management.
• Technical Skills: Proficient in MS Office and Google applications. Must be highly skilled in Excel/Google Sheets, including the ability to manipulate data.
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stage projects under tight deadlines, demonstrating superior organizational and time management skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Omnichannel Experience: Direct experience developing line plans and merchandising strategies tailored for both wholesale retail and Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) E-commerce channels.
• System Proficiency: Prior hands-on experience utilizing a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system to manage specifications, vendor communication, and development tracking.
• Global Sourcing Insight: Working knowledge of the international sourcing landscape, including an understanding of duties, tariffs, and the complexities of global supply chain lead times and logistics.
• Inventory & Planning: Familiarity with demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and sales planning processes typically managed by Planning and Inventory Control teams.

Personal Attributes:

• Strategic Thinker: Proven history of implementing new ideas and strategic process improvements that demonstrably enhance business performance.
• Communication & Presentation: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to confidently present a professional, data-driven product and trend assortment to both internal stakeholders and major external retail organizations.
• Collaboration: Highly skilled in navigating complex relationships, interacting effectively with varying personalities, and building strong cross-functional partnerships.
• Organizational Excellence: Exceptional attention to detail with a track record of successfully managing large amounts of information and prioritizing competing demands across multiple seasons simultaneously.
• Travel: Willingness to travel approximately 40% of the time (e.g., short 2-day domestic trips every other month and one week per year for market shopping/research).