Retail Merchandising Lead, AMER

Global Sports Jobs Limited; New York (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Generous PTO

401(k) program

US holidays (11)

Job summary

Global Sports Jobs Limited is seeking a Lead Retail Merchant for footwear to drive the AMER assortments across the US, Mexico, and Brazil. You will balance product understanding with commercial analysis to maximize sell-through and protect margins, ensuring premium brand positioning in local markets.

You will collaborate with Retail, Visual Merchandising, Store Operations and Global teams to execute launches, optimize stock and guide regional OTB and replenishment decisions.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in Retail Buying, Merchandising, or Merchandise planning.
• Experience in apparel, footwear, or lifestyle brands in premium space.
• Strong analytical mindset with Excel and retail KPI knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Execute seasonal assortments across the AMER store network, adapting global assortments to local market needs.
• Develop clustering and tiering strategies for product mix and store formats.
• Own regional Retail Open-to-Buy (OTB) with clear investment strategies and stock efficiency.
• Lead regional trading cadence using real-time data for replenishment and markdowns.
• Monitor performance, identify risks/opportunities, and adjust replenishment and inventory movements.
• Provide feedback to Global teams on product performance to inform future collections.
• Partner with Marketing and Visual Merchandising for launches and storytelling in stores.
• Lead assortment planning for new stores with balanced product offers.

Skills

Retail buying

Merchandising

Merchandise planning

Tools

Excel

Job description

About the Role

This role contributes to the growth of a fast-scaling brand by supporting the development of retail merchandising across AMER. The Lead Retail Merchant for footwear builds and optimises assortments for retail across the US, Mexico, and Brazil, ensuring global strategies translate effectively into local performance. The position balances product understanding with commercial analysis to drive commercial performance, support premium positioning, and respond to regional market needs. The role ensures the right product is in the right place at the right time and that stores are set up to perform at optimum commercial levels while reflecting the brand’s positioning. The role sits within the AMER Retail Merchandising team, a culture driven by innovation, collaboration, and high performance, working closely with Retail, Visual Merchandising, Store Operations, and various Global teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute seasonal assortments across the AMER store network, adapting global assortments to local market needs such as store tiers, climate, and customer demand while ensuring consistency with premium brand positioning and driving sell-through.
• Develop clustering and tiering strategies to ensure the right product mix, depth, and capacity for every store format and market.
• Own the regional Retail Open-to-Buy (OTB), developing clear investment strategies backed by thorough analysis to deliver sustainable, profitable growth while optimising stock-turn and protecting gross margins.
• Lead the regional trading cadence, using real-time data to pivot strategies and manage replenishment, regional stock transfers, and markdown cadences to maximise full-price sell-through.
• Monitor performance and identify risks and opportunities, taking action through replenishment, stock movements, and markdowns to support strong sell-through and inventory efficiency.
• Provide structured feedback to Global teams on product performance, highlighting regional needs such as fit, style, and timing to inform future collections and acting as a link between market reality and product strategy.
• Partner with Marketing and Visual Merchandising to support new collection launches and ensure product stories are clearly and consistently executed in stores.
• Lead and drive assortment planning and execution for new stores while ensuring a balanced and relevant product offer at launch.
• Track key KPIs such as sell-through, ROS, stock levels, and turn, using data to support decisions and improve performance.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• 5+ years in Retail Buying, Merchandising, or Merchandise planning.
• Experience in apparel, footwear, or lifestyle brands in the premium space.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, evolving environments.
• Strong analytical mindset with good Excel/data skills and a solid understanding of retail KPIs and trading levers.
• Good product sensibility and attention to detail.
• Team player, structured, and solution-oriented.
• Able to work cross-functionally and influence stakeholders.
• Clear and positive communicator, able to simplify complex topics.
• Open to change, with a continuous improvement mindset.

Salary

• Typical cash compensation range for this position inclusive of base + bonus: $110k–$140k.
• Individual compensation packages are based on various factors unique to each candidate, including experience, industry knowledge, qualifications, skill set, and location.
• Certain roles may be eligible for equity compensation in addition to cash compensation.

Benefits & Perks

• Competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Industry-leading PTO package.
• Competitive 401k program.
• 11 paid US holidays.
• Corporate office closure between Christmas and New Year.
• Product perks.