Merchandise Manager

Torrid; California; On-site; USD 167,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

401k with company matching

Volunteer time off (32 hours)

Employee discounts

Wellness package (medical/dental/eye)

EAP

Job summary

Torrid, a specialty fashion retailer, is seeking a Merchandising Manager/Director in California to shape product identity and drive growth. You will define the Omni-channel strategy, lead cross-functional teams, and optimize assortment, pricing, and presentation to boost sales and strengthen brand loyalty.

Ideal candidates have a startup mindset, proven capability to scale teams, and extensive experience in fashion merchandising, planning, and analytics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Business, or related field or equivalent experience.
• Eight or more years of progressive retail buying experience in fashion categories.
• Strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Define Omni-channel product strategy and assortment for multiple departments.
• Collaborate with merchant teams to align line plans with company goals.
• Identify growth opportunities and work with Planners on growth and risk.
• Develop omni-channel marketing/visual strategies to drive KPIs.
• Ensure balanced assortment and optimize pricing opportunities.
• Partner with planning/allocation to manage inventory across seasons.
• Ensure product execution meets design aesthetic and quality standards.
• Lead, coach, and empower the team to achieve targets.

Skills

Startup mindset

Strategic leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication

Partnership building

Time management

Problem solving

Collaboration

Data interpretation & reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising/Business

8+ years progressive retail buying experience

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

MerchandisingCity of Industry,California

The Merchandising Manager/Director will play a pivotal role in defining Torrid's product identity and driving business growth. This position demands a keen eye for trends, an in-depth understanding of our customer, and a strategic mindset. We’re looking for someone with a start‑up mentality who is resourceful, and highly adaptable—with proven experience scaling a department or business. The ideal candidate will work closely with cross‑functional teams to develop a compelling product assortment that captivates our target audience, boosts sales, and strengthens brand loyalty.

Success in this role requires a blend of creativity and data‑driven decision‑making to shape product selection, pricing strategies, and presentation, all with a focus on enhancing the customer experience and maximizing sales.

What You’ll Do:

Product Strategy and Assortment

• Develop and drive the Omni-channel product strategy, assortment testing, and financial performance goals for multiple departments or product categories.
• Partner with merchant teams to ensure line plans and departmental strategies align with company goals and strategic initiatives.
• Identify growth opportunities in product categories and work with Planners to identify growth and risk.
• Develop compelling Omni-Channel marketing/visual strategies to drive product assortment and KPIs.
• Ensure a balanced assortment across departments, identifying duplication, cannibalization, and pricing opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to create and enhance operational efficiencies in calendar, team, and process.
• Partner with Planning and allocation teams to manage inventory levels throughout the season.
• Ensure product execution meets design aesthetic and quality standards.

Business Acumen and Strategy

• Develop a customer-focused merchandise assortment plan/strategy that optimizes sales and margin opportunities.
• React quickly and decisively to business trends to maintain positive sales growth and increased margin or minimize downside when trends shift.
• Understand, monitor, and track customer trends, and conduct store visits and competitive shopping.
• Value individuality and diverse talents of the team.
• Lead the team by communicating expectations, providing guidance, delivering feedback, and empowering team members.

What You’ll need:

• Start‑up mindset with a proven ability to scale teams or departments; excels at bringing structure and strategy to ambiguous or rapidly evolving business environments.
• Proven track record of delivering results with a thorough understanding of buying, operations, and merchandising in specialty retail.
• Experience in business planning, assortment optimization, and line development.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and decision‑making abilities, with attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build strong internal and external partnerships, adapt to changing business strategies, and interact professionally with diverse groups, including executives and managers.
• Highly organized self‑starter with strong time management skills; adept at juggling multiple priorities and driving projects forward in dynamic, fast‑paced environments.
• Proactive problem‑solving approach and ability to provide constructive feedback.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and experience with data analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Business, or a related field preferred, or equivalent experience.
• Eight or more years of progressive retail buying experience in fashion categories.

What You'll Get:

• A culture where people are accepted and encouraged to be who they are.
• Competitive compensation, 401k with company matching contribution, plus potential to earn company performance‑based bonuses.
• Comprehensive wellness package including, medical, dental, vision, and Flexible Spending Account
• Generous 50% employee discount and access to employee‑only sales.
• Support the causes you’re passionate about. We pay you up to 32 hours annually for volunteering your time in the community.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Aimed at helping employees address a variety of personal and family issues including legal financial consultations, mental health services and more.
• Discounts on cell phones, and computer purchases, entertainment tickets and more.
• Pet insurance for your fur babies.
• Work and learn alongside industry‑leading executives while making huge strides in impacting the lives of women.
• You’ll be challenged and grow. Opportunity for upward mobility is available at all levels of the organization.

Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates willing to relocate.

Salary: $166,936 – $210,390 / year

Our company participates in E-Verify . E-Verify is a program that electronically confirms a candidate’s eligibility to work in the United States after completing the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). The information provided on the Form I-9 is compared to the records contained in the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases. This helps employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees.
E-Verify Poster: https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf
Eligibility to Work Poster (English): https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/IER_RightToWorkPoster.pdf
Eligibility to Work Poster (Spanish): https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RighttoWorkPosterES.pdf
California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA): https://careers.jobvite.com/torrid/2023-CPRA-Applicant-Notice.pdf
EEO Poster: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf