2026-2027 Leadership Development Program – Merchandising Full Time

Abercrombie & Fitch; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation bonus

Merchandise discount

Wellness programs

Healthcare coverage

Paid time off

Career progression

Employee resource groups

Job summary

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. seeks candidates for its A&F Leadership Development Programs, designed to fast-track future leaders through a blend of classroom sessions, on-the-job training, and mentorship in Columbus, OH.

These programs emphasize internal advancement, entrepreneurial thinking, and exposure to senior leaders as you manage portions of multi-billion-dollar businesses across key areas at the Home Office.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; minimum 3.0 GPA expected.
• Proven leadership experience and team-based collaboration.
• Ability to translate trends into business strategy and product insights.
• Strong presentation skills; comfortable with senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Analyze customer and market data to inform assortment actions.
• Drive profitability and financial success of product categories.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to adapt strategies to changing data.
• Identify trends in the global market to align with customer needs.
• Develop assortment architecture for assigned categories across seasons.
• Support product development from concept sketches to final goods.
• Present product lines and strategies to senior leadership with insights.

Skills

Leadership

Teamwork

Analytical thinking

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

The A&F Leadership Development Programs are highly competitive initiatives, unique for their entrepreneurial structure, and provide immediate exposure to senior level leaders. With a “promote from within” mentality, these programs have been designed to shape top candidates into the future leaders of our company. We want students who are motivated, creative, and strategic – natural leaders seeking to drive results in a team-based environment.

The comprehensive programs will include:

• Combination of classroom sessions and on-the-job training
• Relationship with a mentor to guide learning in the new role
• Interactive presentations from a variety of senior leaders in the company
• An open and inclusive learning environment with fellow associates
• Integrated social activities to help transition to Columbus and the unique corporate culture at A&F
• Preparation to effectively manage a portion of the business in one of our critical areas at Home Office

Merchants are the leaders of the business, managing the strategy for millions of dollars of product each day. Entrepreneurial in nature, Merchants lead a cross-functional team to maximize the financial success of their product line and must possess the unique ability to be both analytical and creative daily. Merchants are the experts on our customer, understanding their lifestyle, behaviors, and preferences to predict and capitalize on market trends. From working with our designers to identify the next styles and trends for our stores, to analyzing sales and identifying growth strategies for the business, our Merchants are involved with every aspect of the product and the customer.

What Will You Be Doing?

• Analyzing the customer through market, field and relevant social research to inform business & assortment actions
• Driving the financial success and profitability of your product category
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop business strategies and react to change while making calculated decisions based on current sales information
• Dissecting the competitive landscape and identifying emerging trends in the global market to deliver product that is aligned with the customer and market perspective
• Developing the assortment architecture for your given category while managing multiple product seasons
• Providing comprehensive support of the product development process from sketch to finished product
• Presenting the product line and strategies to senior leadership, leading and contributing to selling analysis, customer insights, and trend ideas

What Do You Need To Bring?

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Passion for the A&F brands, customer, and the role
• Proven leadership experience
• Ability to thrive in team-based settings and a collaborative approach to working with cross-functional partners
• Desire to take on the responsibility of running a portion of a multi-billion-dollar business
• Capability to translate emerging fashion trends into the brand handwriting and heritage
• Strong presentation skills and the ability to communicate confidently with senior-level leaders
• Ability to balance between robust analytical capability and an interest in the creative process
• Ability to adapt and work in a fast-paced environment
• Desire & curiosity to learn more!

The A&F Full Time Leadership Development Programs offer competitive compensation packages for trainees. Other benefits include $8,000 in placement and relocation bonuses, merchandise discounts at all our brands, use of the A&F gym, industry-leading healthcare coverage, and company matching savings and retirement programs.

To be eligible for consideration, students must also submit their unofficial transcripts and resumes, complete with cumulative GPA.

Our Company

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is a global, digitally led omnichannel specialty retailer of apparel and accessories catering to kids through millennials with assortments curated for their specific lifestyle needs.

The company operates a family of brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch, YPB, abercrombie kids, Hollister and Gilly Hicks, each sharing a commitment to offer products of enduring quality and exceptional comfort that support global customers on their journey to being and becoming who they are. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates over 750 stores under these brands across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the e-commerce sitesabercrombie.com,abercrombiekids.com, andhollisterco.com.

At Abercrombie & Fitch Co., we lead with purpose and always put our people first. We’re proud to offer equitable compensation and benefits, including flexibility and competitive Paid Time Off, as well as education and engagement events, including various Associate Resource Groups, volunteer opportunities and additional time off to give back to our global communities.

Benefits & Perks

As an Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F Co.) associate, you’ll be eligible to participate in a variety of benefit programs designed to fit you and your lifestyle. A&F Co. is committed to providing competitive and comprehensive benefits that align with our company’s culture and values, but most importantly – with you! We also provide competitive incentives to reward the commitment our associates have for moving our global business forward:

• Incentive bonus program
• Annual companywide review process
• Flexible spending accounts
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Associate assistance program
• Paid parental and adoption leave
• Access to fertility and adoption benefits through Carrot
• Access to mental health and wellness app, Headspace
• Paid time off and one paid volunteer day per year, allowing you to give back to your community
• Work from anywhere (Mondays and Fridays are “work from anywhere” days for most roles and six work from anywhere weeks per year)
• Seven associate wellness half days per year
• Merchandise discount on all our brands
• Opportunities for career advancement, we believe in promoting from within
• Access to multiple Associate Resource Groups
• Global team of people who will celebrate you for being YOU!

Additional Information

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER