lululemon Manager, Global Merchandising - Men's Athletic

lululemon; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 140,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health & dental

Paid time off

Retirement plan matching

Employee discount

Fitness & yoga classes

Parenthood top-up

Development courses

Mentorship programs

Job summary

lululemon in Vancouver is seeking a Global Merch Manager to lead seasonal merchandise strategy and global product assortment. You will guide a team of Global Merchants, partnering with Brand, Marketing, and Guest Experience to ensure brand consistency and regional relevance.

This role requires 8+ years in merchandising, leadership experience with a global brand, strong Excel and merchandising software skills, and the ability to translate data into actionable range plans.

Qualifications

• 8+ years merchandising with people management experience.
• Experience with a global brand required.
• Strong Excel and merchandising software proficiency.
• Analytical skills to interpret data across channels.
• Understanding of retail math and financial acumen.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and present to senior leadership.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Awareness of global fashion and active wellness trends.
• Ability to develop global product strategy and roadmap.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a team of Global Merchants and guide development.
• Define 2–3 year class strategies and seasonal roadmap.
• Partner with Brand and Creative to craft global product strategies.
• Lead SKU and assortment architecture with Design and Product Development.
• Present season directions to Regional Buyers and partners.
• Align on activity strategies with Design and franchises.
• Drive consumer and competitive insights.
• Ensure color flow and profitable storytelling.
• Meet seasonal KPIs.

Skills

People leadership

Excel mastery

Merchandising software

Adobe Illustrator

Analytical thinking

Retail math

Data interpretation

Communication skills

Prioritization

Team collaboration

Education

BA/BS in Retail Management

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Job description

Description & Requirements

who we are

lululemon is an innovative performance apparel company for yoga, running, training, and other athletic pursuits. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional design, we create transformational products and experiences that support people in moving, growing, connecting, and being well. We owe our success to our innovative product, emphasis on stores, commitment to our people, and the incredible connections we make in every community we're in. As a company, we focus on creating positive change to build a healthier, thriving future. In particular, that includes creating an equitable, inclusive and growth-focused environment for our people.

about this team

The Merchandising team creates and executes transformative global product strategies that ensure we have the right assortment in the right place at the right time to fulfill our guests' unmet needs to deepen our guest relationships, grow our brand and deliver on our long-term enterprise goals. We possess deep awareness and intuition of global marketplace dynamics and guest needs and use this knowledge to identify opportunities to maximize guest demand.

a day in the life

The Global Merch Manager is a seasoned product and market strategist who is accountable for the global seasonal merchandise strategies and roadmap for the season.

The Global Merch Manager also drives the creation, management and execution of the global product assortment by effectively leading their teams in collaborations and partnerships with the Product, Brand/Marketing and Guest Experience teams.

This person is responsible for the development of the members of their global merchandising team to deliver product needs that reflect brand consistency and regional relevance to maximize profitability and sales across product classes, key items and channels.

core responsibilities

• Responsible for overseeing a team of Global Merchants who report directly to the Manager. The Manager inspires, coaches and guides their team members to develop their skills and deliver on business priorities. The Manager supports employee development plans and performance management.
• Accountable for defining class strategies based on short range product strategy (2-3 years) and creating global seasonal merchandise strategies and roadmap for the season
• In partnership with Brand and Creative partners, create Global Product strategies
• Responsible for briefing raw materials
• Accountable for leading their team in building the architecture of the assortment in collaboration with Design and Product Development team
• Responsible for creating and delivering global merchandising strategies to their Regional teams
• Responsible for presenting direction for the season- roadmap, story-telling/campaigns, direction of product flow and colour to Regional Buyers and key cross-functional partners, for their business category
• Enroll and align on activity strategies with Design (carryover, seasonal newness, franchise management and slot investments)
• Build strategic vision for franchises and product lifecycle
• Sign off on sketches and protos against long term category strategy
• Leads the team to gain in depth consumer and competitive insights
• Accountable for colour flow for global assortment to ensure clear consistent profitable storytelling
• Ensure seasonal KPIs/targets are met

qualifications

• BA, BSc, BBA, BComm, (or equivalent), specialization in Retail Management an asset
• Minimum 8 years of experience, combination of people management and Merchandising experience
• Proven ability to coach, mentor and lead a team
• Understanding and experience in working for a Global Brand is required
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Programs- Mastery in Excel, proficiency in Merchandising Software, preferred experience in Adobe Illustrator
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret multiple data points across numerous channels and market segments
• Financial acumen and understanding of Retail Math
• Ability to balance analytical and creative tasks
• Ability to interpret and apply financial insights on current business performance and leverage insights to guide and inform future range plans
• Acute eye for product and colour trends
• Aware of macro lifestyle and fashion trends and how this relates to the active and wellness industry
• Strong understanding of global market place, major shifts in trend and activity
• Ability to apply, interpret and synthesize marketplace data to create global assortment
• Ability to enroll and clearly communicate vision, class strategy and feedback to key partners
• Ability to lead and influence creative partners
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal, and demonstrative ability to present to Senior Leadership
• Ability to multi task, pivot, prioritize competing tasks and operate in a fast paced environment
• Highly organized with a keen eye for the detail
• Ability to work independently to make sound business decisions

must haves

• Acknowledge the presence of choice in every moment and take personal responsibility for your life.
• Possess an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovate to achieve great results.
• Communicate with honesty and kindness and create the space for others to do the same.
• Lead with courage, knowing the possibility of greatness is bigger than the fear of failure.
• Foster connection by putting people first and building trusting relationships.
• Integrate fun and joy as a way of being and working, aka doesn't take yourself too seriously.

additional notes

Immigration support is potentially available for this role.

compensation and benefits package

lululemon's compensation offerings are grounded in a pay-for-performance philosophy that recognizes exceptional individual and teamperformance. Thetypical hiring range for this position is from$140,200 CAD - 184,000 CAD annually; the base pay offered is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and internal equity. As part of our total rewards offering, permanent employees in this position may be eligible for our competitive annual bonus program and subject to program eligibility requirements.

• Extended health and dental benefits, and mental health plans
• Paid time off
• Savings and retirement plan matching
• Generous employee discount
• Fitness & yoga classes
• Parenthood top-up
• Extensive catalog of development course offerings
• People networks, mentorship programs, and leadership series (to name a few)

Note: The incentive programs, benefits, and perks have certain eligibility requirements. The Company reserves the right to alter these incentive programs, benefits, and perks in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.

workplace arrangement

Hybrid

In-person collaboration and connection is important to our culture. Work is performed onsite, minimum 4 days per week.