Merchandise Manager - Footwear - Johnston & Murphy

Johnston&Murphy; Nashville (TN); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnston & Murphy seeks a Merchandise Manager for Footwear to drive category performance, develop assortments, and lead a high‑impact team across retail and eCommerce. You will translate consumer insights into compelling product lines and maintain brand alignment with leadership and partners.

The role requires strong forecasting, inventory management, and cross‑functional collaboration to optimize sales, margins, and customer experience. Hybrid work and travel to stores may be involved.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Business, or related field.
• 4+ years in progressive merchandising or buying, footwear/apparel preferred.
• Proven experience managing assortments across retail and eCommerce.

Responsibilities

• Lead Merchandise Buying and Inventory Management for footwear categories across stores and eCommerce.
• Collaborate with Design, Planning, Marketing, Sourcing, Operations, and Leadership.
• Develop and execute assortment plans, forecasts, and inventory strategies by channel.
• Support special merchandising initiatives and provide performance insights.

Skills

Footwear merchandising

People leadership

Forecasting & inventory

Cross-channel merchandising

Education

Bachelor's degree in Merchandising or related field

Tools

IBM Planning Analytics

JestaMerchandising System

JestaSourcing & Demand

Job description

Merchandise Manager - Footwear - Johnston & Murphy

Job Category: Buying & Merchandising

Requisition Number: MERCH002640

• Posted : September 9, 2026
• Full-Time
• Hybrid

Locations

Showing 1 location

Description

The Ideal Candidate

The Merchandising Manager is a strategic leader responsible for driving the performance, vision, and growth of assigned product categories across Johnston &Murphyretail stores and eCommerce channels. This role leads a team to develop and executemerchandise strategies that maximize sales, margin, inventory productivity, and customer engagement while ensuring alignment with the Johnston & Murphy brand position and businessobjectives.

As a key brand ambassador, the Merchandising Manager champions thebrandpoint of view in cross-functional meetings, product discussions, and business planning, influencing decisions that strengthen customer experience and reinforce brand consistency. This leader partners closely with Design, Planning, Marketing, Retail Operations, and Executive Leadership to translate consumer insights and market trends into compelling assortments and growth opportunities.

How You Will Make an Impact

MerchandiseBuying& Inventory Management

• Analyze weekly sales, inventory, and performance reports toidentifyopportunities, risks, and actionable insights that drive sales and profitability.
• Develop andmaintainsales forecasts, inventory plans, and seasonal buy strategies by product category and channel.
• Communicate style-level sales projections and inventory requirements to the Sourcing team to support businessobjectives.
• DetermineoptimalSKU assortments, inventory depth, and breadth by store based on sales performance, capacity, customer demand, and regional trends.
• Establish and adjust store model stocks and replenishment strategies based on current sales trends, inventory positions, and store performance.
• Manage inter-store transfers and inventory reallocations to maximize sell-through and improve inventory productivity.
• Monitor inventory flow and product deliveries to distribution centers and stores to ensuretimelyreceipt and allocation of merchandise.
• Support catalog and marketing initiatives through review and validation of product information,andpricing.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Wholesale merchandising counterparts to align assortment, inventory, and product strategies across channels.
• Serve as the Direct-to-Consumer merchandising expert for assigned product categories, providing insights and recommendations to cross-functional partners.
• Communicate business performance, opportunities, and seasonal recaps to Product Development, Marketing, Sourcing, Operations, and Executive Leadership teams.

Additional Responsibilities

• Support special merchandising projects andinitiatives asassigned.
• Travel occasionally to stores to assess performance, customer trends, and merchandising opportunities.

Experience and Skills You'll Need to Have

• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising,Businessora relatedfield.
• 4+ years ofprogressivemerchandising orbuyingexperience, preferably within footwear and apparel.
• Proven experience managing product assortments across multiple channels, including retail and eCommerce.

Core Competencies

• Lead,coachand develop high-performing teams while fostering a culture of accountabilityand collaboration.
• Champion the Johnston & Murphy brand point of view in meetings,planningsessionsand key business decisions.
• Communicate with confidence andmanagerialpresence while effectivelyrepresentingthe merchandisingteamacross the organization.
• Manage multiple priorities with agility and accountability whilemaintaininga high levelof accuracy, organization, and attention to detail.

Technical Skills

• Advancedproficiencyin Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong knowledge ofmerchandise planning, forecasting, allocation, and inventory management systems.
• Ability to quickly learn and effectivelyutilizebusiness systems, including IBM Planning Analytics,JestaMerchandising System, andJestaSourcing & Demand.

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Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.