Director, Merchandising

Sephora USA, Inc; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 153,000 - 177,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee discount 30%

Well-Being program

Hybrid schedule & leave benefits

Job summary

Sephora Canada seeks a senior merchandising leader to direct the category strategy and portfolio performance generating over $500M in annual revenue. You will steer growth initiatives, manage brand partnerships, and align cat strategies with financial goals across omni-channel Canada.

As a senior leader, you’ll guide a high-performing team, collaborate with Planning and cross-functional partners, and drive profitable sales growth in a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of buying/merchandising experience with 3–5 years in a leadership role within specialty retail, beauty, or related consumer categories.
• Proven success leading large-scale businesses, brands, or categories in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Strong business and financial acumen with experience managing sales, profitability, and inventory performance.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute category growth strategies and deliver measurable business results.
• Experience building and managing strategic vendor and brand partnerships.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills with the ability to influence across functions, teams, and geographies.
• Strategic thinking with analytical rigor, sound judgement, and adaptability.
• Proven track record of developing high-performing teams and leading through change.
• Passion for beauty, retail, brands, and creating exceptional client experiences.
• Comfort and confidence using digital and AI-enabled tools responsibly in day-to-day work.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies that drive sustainable growth, market share, and client engagement.
• Shape seasonal merchandising priorities and oversee brand assortment, launches, promotions, and key initiatives.
• Identify and evaluate new brands, products, and opportunities to support Sephora Canada's growth.
• Leverage market trends and client insights to inform strategic decisions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with brand partners and vendors.
• Lead negotiations related to commercial agreements, margins, co-op, training investments, samples, and partnerships.
• Collaborate with brands to deliver launches, activations, and client experiences that strengthen market leadership.
• Champion partnerships that drive long-term category growth and profitability.
• Partner with Planning to set annual and seasonal sales, margin, and inventory objectives.
• Monitor performance and identify opportunities to maximize growth and profitability.
• Drive business reviews and strategic planning aligned to financial targets.
• Balance short-term needs with long-term category growth strategies.
• Work with Marketing, Ecommerce, Visual Merchandising, Education, Supply Chain, and Store Ops to execute strategies.
• Contribute to cross-functional initiatives that elevate in-store and digital experiences.

Skills

Leadership in merchandising

Category strategy

Brand partnerships

Financial acumen

Vendor management

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Analytical rigor

Team development

Client experience focus

Comfort with AI tools

Tools

AI-enabled tools

Job description

Working Model: Hybrid

Vacancy Status : This position is for an existing, open vacancy

Belong to Something Beautiful

At Sephora Canada, beauty is about feeling seen, valued, and empowered, individually and collectively. It is connecting deeply with others, celebrating diversity and inclusivity, unlocking your potential and making a difference every day. Together, we belong to something beautiful.

Ready for a career glow-up? As Director, Merchandising, you will lead the strategy and performance of a product category portfolio generating more than $500M in annual revenue. You will be responsible for developing category growth strategies, managing brand partnerships, identifying new business and assortment opportunities, and driving profitable sales growth across Sephora Canada's omni-channel business.

In partnership with Planning, you will help shape and deliver financial objectives including sales, gross margin, inventory productivity, and profitability while ensuring category strategies align with overall business goals. As a key senior leader, you will influence and collaborate across multiple functions and North American stakeholders to bring best-in-class brand experiences to Canadian clients.

This role requires a commercially minded leader who combines strong strategic thinking with a passion for product, brands, and client experience. You will lead and develop a high-performing merchandising team while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

What You’ll Do

Category & Merchandising Strategy

• Develop and execute category strategies that drive sustainable growth, market share, and client engagement.
• Shape seasonal merchandising priorities and oversee brand assortment, launches, promotions, and key business initiatives.
• Identify and evaluate new brands, products, and business opportunities that support Sephora Canada's growth objectives.
• Leverage market trends, client insights, and competitive intelligence to inform strategic decisions.

Brand Partnerships & Business Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships with brand partners and vendors.
• Lead negotiations related to commercial agreements, margins, co-op support, training investments, samples, and other partnership opportunities.
• Collaborate with brands to deliver innovative launches, activations, and client experiences that strengthen Sephora's market leadership.
• Champion strategic partnerships that drive long-term category growth and profitability.

Financial & Business Leadership

• Partner with Planning to establish and deliver annual and seasonal sales, margin, and inventory objectives.
• Monitor business performance and identify opportunities to maximize category growth and profitability.
• Drive business reviews and strategic planning discussions, ensuring alignment against financial targets.
• Balance short-term business needs with long-term category growth strategies.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner closely with Marketing, Ecommerce, Visual Merchandising, Education, Supply Chain, and Store Operations teams to execute category and brand strategies.
• Contribute to cross-functional initiatives that elevate both in-store and digital client experiences.
• Work effectively within Sephora's North American organization, adapting broader strategies to meet the unique needs of the Canadian business.
• Influence stakeholders across multiple functions and levels to drive successful business outcomes.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of merchandising professionals.
• Foster an inclusive, high-performance culture that reflects Sephora's values.
• Provide clear direction, prioritize work, and support the growth and development of future merchandising leaders.
• Drive accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the team.

What You’ll Bring

• 10+ years of buying and/or merchandising experience, including 3-5 years in a leadership role within specialty retail, department stores, beauty, fashion, or other relevant consumer categories.
• Proven success leading large-scale businesses, brands, or categories in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Strong business and financial acumen, with experience managing sales, profitability, and inventory performance.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute category growth strategies and deliver measurable business results.
• Experience building and managing strategic vendor and brand partnerships.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence across functions, teams, and geographies.
• Strong strategic thinking combined with analytical rigor, sound judgement, and adaptability in a dynamic environment.
• Proven track record of developing high-performing teams and leading through change.
• Passion for beauty, retail, brands, and creating exceptional client experiences.
• Comfort and confidence using digital and AI-enabled tools responsibly in your day-to-day work.

#FSCHIRING

What You’ll Get:

• Caring Community. You’ll collaborate with teammates who are equally passionate about innovating, doing the right things, and driving the industry forward – together, united in beauty.
• Fulfilling Path. Your career glow-up starts here with access to opportunities that will challenge, stretch, and develop your skills. You’ll have access to the global community of luxury group LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) for endless career opportunities.
• Meaningful Work. As you make an impact on beauty, you’ll feel and see the positive change (consumer, industry, and social) your individual voice is a part of.

Eligibility requirements apply to certain benefits and may vary depending on job classification and length of employment.

• Wealth. We’re passionate about pay equity and transparency. The compensation ranges between CAD$153,000.00 - $176,600 plus bonus, RRSP matching. The final pay offered will depend on various factors, including but not limited to the actual qualifications and experience of the individual, and any additional non-discriminatory, legitimate business factors relevant to the position and/or location.
• Health. Choose a healthcare plan to fit you and your family’s needs with medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage. Access to our Well-Being@Sephora program to support your mental, financial, physical, and social well-being.
• Balance. You’ll be trusted to find the perfect blend of work/life balance that actually works for you with a hybrid work schedule, vacation and flex days, and maternity/paternity leave.
• Growth. A career glow-up is built into every role, with access to training and development programs and resources throughout the year.
• Perks. Think you’ve tried it all? Enjoy a 30% discount on all merchandise/services, opportunities for gratis, and flash sale discounts on LVMH brands.
• Support. Tap into volunteer and donation matching, Employee Assistance Program, and free mental health resources with 24/7 access to Dialogue.

Join us and Belong to Something Beautiful.

Sephora Canada strongly believes in equal opportunity when it comes to employment and advancement. Our goal is to be inclusive, diverse, and representative of the communities where we work while creating an environment where every person can belong, grow, and build a beautiful career. This commitment applies to all candidates and employees regardless of race, ethnicity, citizenship, creed, place of origin, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, family status, marital status, disability, age, and/or any other diversity dimensions. Requests for accommodation due to a disability (visible or otherwise), other protected characteristics or other reasonable circumstances can be made at any stage of the recruitment process and during employment by contacting our People team.

As part of our commitment to transparency and efficiency, we would like to inform you that we utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in our recruitment process to assist in the initial screening and evaluation of applications.