Director of Merchandising

Northern Tool + Equipment; Burnsville (MN); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Flexible work schedule

Comprehensive benefits

Employee discount

Daily pay

Paid holidays

Incentive programs

Job summary

Northern Tool + Equipment seeks a Director of Merchandising to provide strategic leadership across multiple product categories and merchant teams. The role drives sales, margin, inventory productivity, and profitability while shaping category strategies and supplier partnerships.

You will lead omni-channel merchandising initiatives, develop high-performing teams, and partner with cross-functional peers to deliver exceptional customer value across retail, e-commerce, and catalogs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, Supply Chain, Retail Management, or related field required.
• MBA or advanced business degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own the overall performance of assigned product categories, including sales, gross margin, EBITDA, inventory productivity, and market share expansion.
• Oversee and assist team to develop and execute long-term category strategies aligned with company objectives, customer needs, and trends.
• Lead category reviews and business performance discussions with executive leadership.
• Direct category assortment strategies to optimize customer choice and profitability.
• Ensure consistency of merchandising standards across retail, e-commerce, catalog, and other touchpoints.
• Drive omni-channel merchandising decisions using data analytics and consumer insights.
• Lead, coach, and develop Merchants and merchandising team members.
• Foster a high-performance culture with accountability and collaboration.
• Develop executive-level supplier relationships and negotiate for cost optimization and opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Merchandising

Category management

Data analytics

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Travel 4-6x/yr

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business / related field

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Merchandising analytics tools

Job description

Description

At Northern Tool + Equipment we get up every day to serve the tradespeople who keep our country running strong and the weekend warriors who want to work like them. It’s our mission to make sure they have the right tools for the job, and an easy, hassle-free experience at our store so they can get in, get out and get on with the job at hand. Your top priority as a Director, Merchandising is to provided strategic leadership for multiple product categories and merchant teams, with accountability for sales, margin, inventory productivity, and profitability. This role develops and executes category strategies, leads supplier partnerships, drives omni-channel merchandising initiatives, and develops high-performing teams to achieve business objectives and deliver exceptional customer value. Your positive, professional, roll-up-your-sleeves-to-help attitude contributes to our winning culture and makes sure we leave a lasting impression.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Business Performance

• Own the overall performance of assigned product categories, including sales, gross margin, EBITDA contribution, inventory productivity, and market share expansion.
• Oversee and assist team to develop and execute long-term category strategies aligned with role and intent company objectives, customer needs, and emerging industry trends.
• Establish and achieve annual and multi-year financial plans, including sales, margin, inventory turn, new item vitality rate and profitability targets.
• Monitor performance against key metrics and proactively identify opportunities, risks, and corrective actions.
• Lead category reviews and business performance discussions with executive leadership.

Merchandising & Assortment Leadership

• Direct category assortment strategies that optimize customer choice, product differentiation, profitability, and inventory investment.
• Lead product lifecycle management, including new product introductions, assortment rationalization, category expansion, and discontinuation strategies.
• Ensure consistency and effectiveness of merchandising standards across retail, e-commerce, catalog, and other customer touchpoints.
• Drive customer-centric merchandising decisions through consumer insights, data analytics, and market intelligence.
• Champion innovation in product selection, category positioning, and customer solutions.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop Merchants and merchandising team members to achieve business goals and support succession planning efforts by building organizational capability for the future.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer focus.
• Establish clear roles, objectives, performance expectations, and development plans for team members.

Vendor & Strategic Sourcing Management

• Develop and maintain executive-level relationships with key suppliers and strategic business partners.
• Support supplier negotiations focused on cost optimization, product innovation, exclusivity opportunities, service performance, and profitability improvement.
• Assist in identifying and developing strategic sourcing opportunities, including private brands, direct import programs, and supplier partnerships. Ensure supplier strategies align with category objectives and long-term growth plans.

Omni-Channel Customer Experience

• Partner with Marketing, E-Commerce, Sales Operations, and Customer Experience teams to deliver a seamless omni-channel shopping experience.
• Guide category content strategy, promotional planning, pricing architecture, and customer engagement initiatives.
• Ensure merchandising strategies support customer acquisition, retention, and loyalty objectives.
• Champion customer insights and voice-of-customer feedback in merchandising decisions.

Market & Competitive Intelligence

• Continuously monitor customer trends, competitive activity, industry developments, and emerging technologies.
• Leverage market intelligence to identify new business opportunities and category growth initiatives.
• Translate market insights into actionable business strategies.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate with Inventory Planning, Supply Chain, Product Development, Marketing, Finance, E-Commerce, and Operations to align business strategies.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve company performance, customer satisfaction, and operational effectiveness.
• Drive alignment across departments to deliver strategic priorities and enterprise-level objectives.

Governance & Operational Excellence

• Ensure compliance with company standards, quality requirements, regulatory requirements, and supplier expectations.
• Oversee direct import, private brand, and product quality initiatives.
• Support process improvements, technology adoption, and merchandising system enhancements.
• Promote data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement across merchandising operations.

What you will bring to the table

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, Supply Chain, Retail Management, or a related field required.
• MBA or advanced business degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive merchandising, category management, retail buying, sourcing, or product management experience.
• 5+ years of people leadership experience managing Merchants, Category Managers, Buyers, or similar professionals.
• Demonstrated success managing multiple categories with responsibility for sales, margin, inventory, and profitability performance.
• Strong business and financial acumen with the ability to interpret and act on sales, margin, inventory, and profitability data.
• Strong strategic thinking and business planning skills.
• Proven leadership, coaching, and talent development capabilities.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including executive-level interactions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience utilizing data analytics and customer insights to drive business decisions.
• Experience leading supplier negotiations, strategic sourcing initiatives, and private brand programs.
• Experience within retail, omni-channel, wholesale distribution, hardlines, tools, equipment, industrial products, or related industries preferred.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and merchandising analytics tools.
• Ability to travel 4-6 times/year or as business needs require
• Demonstrates Northern Tool + Equipment’s 12 Core Competencies.

About Us

Northern Tool + Equipment is a family business with roots stretching back three generations to Minnesota’s Iron Range, where our blue-collar work ethic and commitment to serving the people who do the tough jobs was born. Our mission is to be the best in the world at serving the professional tradespeople and those who want to work like them. With over 130 retail stores across 24 states, top national brands and global manufacturing operations designed to create our own specialized tools and equipment, we are busting our knuckles to deliver the products, prices and advice our customers need to succeed. We’re looking for people who share our blue-collar work ethic. If you’re the kind of person who likes to put your nose to the grindstone to help your customers and company succeed, we’d love to talk to you about becoming a member of our team.

Northern Tool + Equipment is proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Top Midsize Employer in 2023. We are committed to creating a workplace where your contributions are valued, and your professional growth is encouraged. When you join our team, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive and competitive compensation package that includes:

• Competitive Pay: Earn $130,000 to $190,000 annually, with your exact compensation personalized based on your skills, experience, and location. We believe in rewarding top talent with pay that reflects your value.
• Variable Pay: Variable pay is a component of compensation that can fluctuate based on performance, results, or specific metrics, rather than being a fixed amount like a salary. Annual bonus tied to company performance are paid annually. Incentive plans tied to an achievement-based outcome are generally paid monthly to quarterly.
  • The NTE AIP plan pay ranges from 5% to 100% of base salary. Eligibility is based on grade and roles that manage performance. Eligibility and payouts are outlined in the NTE AIP policy.
• Flexible Work Schedule: Achieve the work-life balance you deserve with our full-time, 8-hour shifts, Monday – Friday, complemented by a hybrid work schedule that allows you to work both remotely and in the office.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Your health and well-being are our priority. We offer a variety of health plans, so you can choose what best fits your needs. Employees working 30+ hours per week enjoy a robust benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and a 401(k) plan with an enhanced company match to support your financial future.
• Generous Employee Discount: Love our products? So do we! Enjoy a significant discount on the quality tools and equipment we offer, helping you save on the items you love to use.
• Get Paid on Your Terms: With our Daily Pay option, you don’t have to wait for payday—access your earnings whenever you need them for added financial flexibility.
• Paid Holidays: Take time to relax and recharge with 7 paid federal holidays, because we know how important it is to have time for yourself and your loved ones.
• Incentives: Be rewarded for eligible incentive programs.

When you join Northern Tool + Equipment, you're not just starting a job—you're joining a community that supports your success. Come be a part of a team where your skills, dedication, and passion are recognized and celebrated. Your future starts here!

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.