Hybrid Senior Merchandising Leader: Growth & Strategy

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.; Florham Park (NJ); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision plans

401k with match

Job summary

Barnes & Noble Education (BNED) is seeking a Sr. Merchandise Manager to provide strategic leadership across assigned merchandise categories.

This role owns end-to-end merchandise lifecycle including category strategy, financial planning, assortment development, pricing, promotions, and vendor partnerships. You will lead a team of Buyers and Assistant Buyers, collaborate across Marketing, Store Operations, Finance, and Digital channels, and travel as needed to drive growth and optimize inventory

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Eight to ten years of merchandising/buying experience in omnichannel retail.
• Proven ability to develop and execute merchandise strategies for growth and profitability.
• Experience managing General Merchandise and/or Hardgoods categories preferred.
• Strong financial, analytical, and strategic business sense with data-driven decision making.
• Experience leading teams and cross-functional partners.
• Excellent communication and project management skills.
• Proficiency with Office and retail systems; AI-enabled tools preferred.
• Ability to travel to stores, vendor meetings, and trade shows as needed.

Responsibilities

• Own the overall business strategy and financial performance for assigned merchandise categories.
• Develop and execute merchandise strategies, assortments, pricing, promotions, and go-to-market plans.
• Lead assortment development across channels, regions, and price tiers.
• Analyze customer insights and market trends to identify opportunities.
• Partner with planning to create seasonal financial plans and inventory strategies.
• Drive inventory management and pricing strategies to optimize turnover.
• Mentor and develop a high-performing team of Buyers and Assistants.
• Build supplier partnerships and negotiate favorable terms.
• Ensure vendor accountability and cross-functional collaboration.
• Lead milestones like line reviews, product launches, and marketing coordination.

Skills

Merchandising leadership

Strategy development

Financial planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Retail Management, Marketing, Finance, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Retail planning systems

AI-enabled tools

Job description

Barnes & Noble Education (BNED) is seeking a Sr. Merchandise Manager to provide strategic leadership across assigned merchandise categories.

This role owns end-to-end merchandise lifecycle including category strategy, financial planning, assortment development, pricing, promotions, and vendor partnerships. You will lead a team of Buyers and Assistant Buyers, collaborate across Marketing, Store Operations, Finance, and Digital channels, and travel as needed to drive growth and optimize inventory