melin Sr Product Merchandiser

melin; San Clemente (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Complimentary meals

Brand discounts

Company bonus program

Milestone gifts

Health insurance

401k with employer match

PTO: 15 days +

Beach days and team events

Job summary

melin in San Clemente, CA, is seeking a Senior Product Merchandiser to own the commercial strategy for our premium headwear lines. You will bridge Product, Design, Sales, Marketing and Operations, shaping line architecture and assortment from concept to consumer while upholding profitability and storytelling.

This is an in-office hybrid role with 4 days in the San Clemente office and occasional remote work.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in Merchandising, Product Strategy, or Category Management in premium apparel or lifestyle goods.
• Proven track record owning revenue, margins, SKU productivity, and line sell-through.
• Deep mastery of line architecture, price ladders, and multi-channel planning.
• Demonstrated cross-functional leadership influencing design, sales, and executives.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets, PLM, and retail analytics tools.
• Executive-level presentation and storytelling skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, or related field preferred.
• Actively seeks AI-enabled tools to improve productivity and insights while maintaining compliance.

Responsibilities

• Line Planning & Strategy: Own 18–24 month roadmaps and seasonal line plans that balance targets with pillars.
• Commercial Analytics: Lead sales insights, trend analyses, and teardowns for growth strategies.
• Marketplace Assortment & Lifecycle: Define assortment strategies across DTC, Wholesale, Majors.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Translate market needs into briefs; align timelines and GTM with teams.
• Process Leadership & Mentorship: Own merchandising tools and mentor junior members.

Skills

Merchandising

Product Strategy

Category Management

Cross-functional leadership

Excel/Google Sheets

PLM systems

Retail analytics tools

Executive storytelling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business / Merchandising / Marketing

Tools

PLM systems

Retail analytics tools

Job description

Company Overview

At melin we believe that with more thought, time and care invested into how we make our products that we can actually extend the life of our hats and the adventures we take them on. We are looking to expand our internal family and are seeking one incredible human, capable of excellence in a fast-paced work environment and eager to join an elite, yet small team of \"A players\".

Company Overview

At melin we believe that with more thought, time and care invested into how we make our products that we can actually extend the life of our hats and the adventures we take them on. We are looking to expand our internal family and are seeking one incredible human, capable of excellence in a fast-paced work environment and eager to join an elite, yet small team of \"A players\".

About The Role

We are seeking a Senior Product Merchandiser to own the commercial strategy for our product lines and serve as the strategic bridge across Product, Design, Sales, Marketing, and Operations. As our senior merchandising voice, you will drive product lines from concept to consumer - ensuring every style balances purpose, profitability, and storytelling while establishing our internal merchandising operating standard.

This senior individual-contributor role is built for a proven leader ready to own line architecture, assortment strategy, and SKU frameworks across our premium headwear franchises (Hydro, Thermal, Mill, and future innovations). You will leverage data to form strong commercial points of view, defend strategies to executive leadership, and elevate cross-functional execution.

Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following

• Line Planning & Strategy: Own 18-24 month product roadmaps and seasonal line plans that balance financial targets with category pillars; build SKU architectures, price ladders, and margin frameworks in partnership with Finance and Demand Planning.
• Commercial Analytics: Lead sales hindsights, market trend analyses, and competitive teardowns to deliver defensible growth strategies for line expansion, SKU productivity, and sell-through.
• Marketplace Assortment & Lifecycle: Define segmented assortment strategies across DTC, Wholesale, and Major accounts; manage product lifecycles end-to-end, establishing clear entry and end-of-life criteria.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Translate market needs into clear product briefs; partner with Design, Development, Marketing, and Sales to align timelines, costing, and Go-to-Market execution.
• Process Leadership & Mentorship: Own merchandising tools (line plans, PLM hygiene, templates) and calendar discipline; mentor junior team members to raise analytical rigor across the organization.

Experience & Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive experience in Merchandising, Product Strategy, or Category Management within premium apparel, headwear, accessories, or lifestyle goods.
• Proven track record owning commercial outcomes, including revenue, initial margin, SKU productivity, and line sell-through.
• Deep mastery of line architecture, price ladders, and multi-channel assortment planning (DTC, Wholesale, Majors).
• Demonstrated cross-functional leadership and ability to influence design, sales, and executive teams without direct authority.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets, PLM systems, and retail analytics tools.
• Exceptional executive-level presentation and storytelling skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, or a related field preferred.
• Actively seeks out AI-enabled tools and emerging technologies, adapting quickly to leverage them for improved productivity, deeper insights, and more effective processes, while exercising sound judgment and maintaining compliance with organizational standards

Location & Office Structure: This is an in-office hybrid position, mandatory 4 days per week in office in San Clemente, CA with the option to work from home 1 day per week. Subject to change without notice as per company guidelines.

Compensation: The salary range for this position is $110,000 to $140,000 plus opportunity for annual bonus; salary is based on the experience that you bring to the position.

Benefits And Perks

• Complimentary meals provided 3x weekly
• Generous product gift program and all brand discounts
• Company bonus program
• 5 year and 10 year Milestone Anniversary travel gifts
• Medical, Dental, Vision insurance in accordance with plan guidelines
• Paid Gym Membership
• Company paid life insurance in accordance with plan guidelines
• 401k with employer match in accordance with plan guidelines
• 15 Days of PTO accrued annually, plus one additional day of PTO every year on your anniversary, and 3 Floating Holidays per year
• Paid beach and giveback days, bi-annual team building events and other in-person celebrations
• Work with talented and great people who share a love of melin
• Dog friendly office

Archipelago Companies values a diverse, inclusive, and entrepreneurial workforce and culture, and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual's race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. If you are unable to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at [e-mail]. Archipelago will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent required by applicable law.