Product Analytics Manager - Merrell

Wolverine Outdoors, Inc. (United States); Rockford (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Merrell is seeking a Product Analytics Manager to serve as the analytical engine for the Senior Director of Product Strategy, translating franchise, cost, pricing, and SKU data into clear forward‑looking direction.

This role leads forecasting, strategic planning, should‑cost modeling, enterprise reporting, and team leadership, with a hybrid work schedule comprising three days in office and two days remote.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in product analytics, merchandise or franchise planning, or business analytics within a consumer goods brand or wholesale environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead long-range forecasting for franchises and pricing/mand margins.
• Provide analytical scaffolding for seasonal and long-range strategic planning.
• Model should-cost data across product development and identify cost innovation opportunities.
• Own pricing and margin frameworks across all product categories.

Skills

Product analytics

Financial modeling

Cross-functional collaboration

Team leadership

Executive-ready recommendations

Tools

Centric PLM

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Product Analytics Manager – Merrell

Merrell is a global footwear and apparel brand that is looking for a Product Analytics Manager. The role serves as the analytical engine for the Senior Director of Product Strategy, translating franchise, cost, pricing, and SKU data into clear forward‑looking direction.

Primary Responsibilities

• Long Range Franchise Forecasting: Lead multi‑season, franchise‑level forecasting in partnership with PLMs and Planning; project volume, revenue, margin, and SKU productivity at the category, franchise, and silhouette level. Build and maintain scenario models that feed into the annual Strategic Plan cycle and long‑range planning process. Connect the franchise outlook to line architecture decisions made by PLMs.
• Strategic Planning Guidance: Provide the analytical scaffolding for seasonal and long‑range strategic planning, building the models and narratives that inform leadership recommendations. Partner with PLMs to surface insights that shape line decisions and align to brand planning. Develop competitive and performance benchmarks to sharpen understanding of Merrell’s market position.
• Should‑Cost Innovation: Collaborate with Technical Development and Cost Engineering teams to model and analyze should‑cost data across the product development process. Work with the shared‑service sourcing team to identify cost innovation opportunities, linking manufacturing, material, and development data.
• Pricing & Margin Expectations: Own and maintain pricing and margin expectation frameworks across all product categories. Work with PLMs to ensure seasonal line decisions align with financial targets. Flag margin risk early in the development cycle and enable proactive adjustments.
• Enterprise Reporting: Deliver regular, decision‑ready revenue and reporting outputs to the Senior Director and leadership stakeholders. Synthesize sell‑in, sell‑through, and marketplace data into product‑ and line‑level recommendations; support the reporting cadence with polished, executive‑ready content.
• SKU Management: Lead analytical oversight of SKU productivity, portfolio rationalization, and line health across all categories. Build scoring models that inform seasonal line architecture and carry‑forward strategy. Track system product data and attribution quality in collaboration with the Product Analytics Analyst.
• AI‑Assisted Reporting: Champion the adoption of AI‑assisted reporting tools within the PD Strategy team. Identify automation opportunities across recurring reporting workflows and implement AI‑powered dashboards and tools. Contribute to the PD Strategy team’s systems and toolset roadmap by evaluating and piloting new analytical capabilities.
• Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop the Product Analytics Analyst. Direct their priorities across dashboard development, PD data governance, business review and commercialization reporting, and system configuration. Connect the Analyst’s outputs to business needs while building their analytical and organizational capabilities.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in product analytics, merchandise or franchise planning, or business analytics within a consumer goods brand or wholesale environment.
• Strong financial modeling skills across franchise forecasting, margin analysis, and should‑cost modeling.
• Proficiency with PLM systems (Centric experience strongly preferred) and BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex datasets into clear, executive‑ready recommendations.
• Proven cross‑functional collaboration skills, comfortable partnering with product, technical development, operations, and finance teams simultaneously.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in the footwear, apparel or outdoor / active lifestyle industry.
• Familiarity with AI‑assisted reporting tools and workflow automation.
• Prior experience managing or mentoring analysts.
• Exposure to cost engineering, sourcing negotiations or vendor cost management.

Working Conditions

• Normal office environment; some travel may be required.
• Hybrid work schedule: three days in office and two days remote.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Wolverine Worldwide, Inc. is committed to creating a company that is as diverse as our consumers. We value the differences in one another and believe our differences make us stronger. Our diverse and inclusive corporate culture starts with the recruitment process. We are committed to being an equal opportunity employer and aim to create equal opportunities for our associates, customers, and suppliers regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected characteristic.