Merchandising Manager

Theuniversityunion; Strathearn (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Entertainment Earth is seeking a Merchandising Manager to lead a team in its Merchandising Department. Reporting to the VP of Merchandising, you will drive buying calendar execution, team performance, cross-functional coordination and day-to-day operational efficiency.

You will serve as the lead buyer for a defined vendor portfolio, maintaining relationships and driving sales, profitability, and long‑term growth within that scope.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in retail buying, merchandising, or category management.
• 2+ years in a people management or team leadership role.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple categories and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong vendor relationship and negotiation skills.
• Proficiency in Excel and data-driven decision making.
• Experience with ERP or inventory management systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day performance of the merchandising team; set expectations, delegate, and evaluate outcomes.
• Own the buying calendar; ensure milestones, launches, and vendor deliverables are on schedule.
• Communicate with internal departments; consolidate outbound information for a single source of truth.
• Monitor purchase orders and budgets; collaborate on assortment strategy and lifecycle decisions.
• Maintain and improve handoffs between Merchandising and PO Operations; support cross-functional launches and catalog updates.
• Lead negotiations on pricing, promotions, and exclusives within assigned vendor portfolios.

Skills

People management

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Education

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

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

NetSuite

Job description

• Location 61 Moreland Rd,Simi Valley, CA, 93065,United States
• Base Pay $100,000.00 - $120,000.00 / Year
• Job Category Merchandising
• Employee Type Exempt
• Manage Others Yes

The Merchandising Manager is responsible for the leadership of a team in Entertainment Earth's Merchandising Department. Reporting to the VP of Merchandising, this role is accountable for buying calendar execution, team performance, cross-functional coordination, and day-to-day operational efficiency. In addition to team leadership, this role serves as the lead buyer for a defined portfolio of assigned vendors, maintaining those relationships and driving commercial outcomes within that scope.

Requirements

Required

• 5+ years of experience in retail buying, merchandising, or category management
• 2+ years in a people management or team leadership role
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple categories and deadlines simultaneously
• Strong vendor relationship and negotiation skills
• Proficiency in Excel and data-driven decision making
• Experience with ERP or inventory management systems

Preferred

• Experience in licensed products, collectibles, toys, or consumer entertainment
• Familiarity with NetSuite
• Experience managing buyers in a wholesale or DTC environment
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, or related field, or equivalent experience

Summary

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Performance Management — Primary Function

• Manage day-to-day performance of team; set clear expectations, delegate effectively, and hold team members accountable for outcomes
• Conduct regular 1:1s, provide ongoing coaching, and deliver formal performance evaluations
• Partner with VP of Merchandising and HR on hiring, onboarding, and team development planning
• Serve as the first point of escalation for team questions, interpersonal issues, and priority conflicts; loop in VP and HR as warranted
• Foster a collaborative, accountable team environment that supports both individual development and collective execution

Buying Operations & Planning Coordination

• Own the buying calendar; ensure planning milestones, product launches, and vendor deliverables are completed on schedule
• Serve as the primary communication channel between team and internal departments — consolidating outbound information so it comes from one source
• Monitor open purchase orders and ensure the team is operating within approved budgets
• Partner with VP on assortment strategy, line reviews, and product lifecycle decisions
• Ensure product information, pricing, imagery, and merchandising content are accurate, complete, and published on time
• Conduct timely communication of product updates, pricing adjustments, and other critical information to internal stakeholders

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Own the handoff protocol between Merchandising and PO Operations — ensure PO information is complete, accurate, and delivered on time
• Coordinate with Marketing and Sales on product launches, promotional campaigns, and catalog updates
• Partner with PO Operations and Traffic on inbound order visibility and exception management
• Collaborate with Finance on forecasting inputs and inventory planning
• Serve as a key liaison between Merchandising leadership and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment on priorities and execution
• Serve as lead buyer for an assigned portfolio of vendors; own the overall business relationship and drive sales, profitability, and long-term growth within that portfolio
• Negotiate pricing, promotional opportunities, and exclusives within the assigned portfolio
• Stay current on industry trends, competitor activity, licensing developments, and emerging product opportunities

Reporting & Systems

• Maintain and distribute buying team reporting including sales performance, vendor scorecards, and category metrics
• Ensure team proficiency and compliance in ERP systems; serve as Merchandising subject-matter lead for the NetSuite implementation (April 2027 go-live)
• Drive continuous improvement of merchandising processes, systems, and workflows
• Identify and elevate process gaps or system issues that affect buying accuracy or efficiency