Kids & Baby Apparel Merchandising Manager

Insight Global; Springfield, Branson (MO, MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Insight Global, headquartered in Springfield, MO, seeks a Merchant Manager for Kids & Baby Apparel to lead category strategy, assortment planning, and vendor partnerships. This role drives growth across the Kids, Baby, and Youth segments within a premier outdoor retail framework.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in merchandising or buying, strong trend analysis, and proven leadership abilities. Onsite work is required with opportunities to influence category performance and profitability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• 5+ years of merchandising, buying, or category management in Kids/ Baby/ Youth.
• Proven experience managing product assortments and vendor relationships.
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate category performance and trends.
• Proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience creating executive-facing presentations and business reviews.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Onsite in Springfield, MO or willing to relocate.

Responsibilities

• Own the Kids, Baby, and Youth Apparel category from strategy through execution.
• Develop and manage seasonal assortments aligned with customer demand and trends.
• Analyze sales performance, customer behavior, and market trends to drive decisions.
• Build and maintain vendor relationships and negotiate assortments and opportunities.
• Create and deliver executive presentations and category reviews using PowerPoint and reporting tools.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on planning, forecasting, inventory, and merchandising initiatives.
• Lead and mentor 1-2 Assistant Merchants.
• Identify emerging fashion and consumer trends to keep assortments competitive.
• Drive category growth while maintaining profitability and brand alignment.

Skills

Analytical skills

Excel

PowerPoint

Executive presentations

Communication

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Merchandising trends

Education

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

Equivalent experience considered

Tools

Power BI

AS400

Merchandise planning systems

Retail inventory platforms

Job description

Insight Global, headquartered in Springfield, MO, seeks a Merchant Manager for Kids & Baby Apparel to lead category strategy, assortment planning, and vendor partnerships. This role drives growth across the Kids, Baby, and Youth segments within a premier outdoor retail framework.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in merchandising or buying, strong trend analysis, and proven leadership abilities. Onsite work is required with opportunities to influence category performance and profitability.