Senior Manager, Merchandising - Work Group

Wolverine Worldwide; Rockford (MI); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Wolverine Worldwide in Rockford, Michigan is seeking a Senior Manager for Merchandising to lead assortment strategies and drive execution across various channels. You will oversee product selection, ensuring alignment with financial and consumer-focused goals.

The ideal candidate has a minimum of 7 years in merchandising and strong leadership experience. This role offers a flexible, hybrid schedule with in-office and remote work options, as well as travel requirements.

Join a diverse team that values differences and promotes an inclusive corporate culture.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7+ years of merchandising experience.
• 5+ years of leadership/management experience preferred.
• Strong relationships with product development and buying teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop seasonal & annual strategies for brands.
• Oversee execution of seasonal strategies for marketplace channels.
• Create and communicate seasonal line plans.

Skills

Merchandising experience

Leadership/management experience

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Excel skills

PowerPoint skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience

MBA preferred

Job description

As Work Group’s Senior Manager, Merchandising, you will be responsible for creating, leading and driving assortment strategies, as well as overseeing its execution. You will own the creation and execution of merchandise strategy and execution for the DTC/ Strategic accounts and will be accountable for and oversee additional marketplace channels. This role will have additional reporting and channel responsibilities overseeing: Key Accounts and Independents.

The Senior Manager, Merchandising will be the lead owner of the Work Group’s channel strategies and being the expert on customer needs and marketplace, you will be the lead and be accountable for building consumer focused assortments. You will select products that meet financial plans and deliver business results and ensure the availability of the products in the right timeframes and placement while maximizing sales and profitability. In this role you will drive cross-functional alignment with Sales, Product, and Marketing to ensure the right product is delivered on- time and meets both consumer need and financial targets. This position will serve as the strategic business driver for the product development, ensuring product and presentation enhances the brand while achieving sales targets and maintains brand integrity for both digital and physical environments.

Primary Duties

• Develop seasonal & annual strategies for Work Group’s brands that meet or exceed sales goals, margin targets, and align to the overarching group strategy
• Oversee execution of seasonal & annual strategies for additional marketplace channels
• Create and communicate seasonal line plans to guide design, product and production in support of work group’s portfolio’s objectives
• Merchandise and present seasonal milestones the product assortments that meet sales and margin targets
• Present seasonal product assortment to upper management, wholesale and global product teams
• Create assortment strategies with an understanding of consumer need and product creation, as well as lead times
• Track business performance; Identify risks and opportunities for reacting to current business
• Create and communicate pricing strategies that align with brand positioning
• Communicate to appropriate cross-functional partners
• Lead as reference point of contact for cross function partners regarding calendar, and deliveries
• Provide thorough and meaningful analysis of channels and effectively articulate learnings to product brand teams and cross-functional partners
• Maintain and demonstrate expert knowledge of customer base through strong sales and ecommerce relationships, frequently visiting stores and constantly reaching out for direct consumer feedback
• Maintain and demonstrate constant understanding of the competitive environment
• Participate in product review to ensure execution meets product briefs
• Participate in key business meeting throughout the product creation process
• Drive operational excellence across the work group to deliver efficiencies, timeliness and go-to-market execution
• Always a champion of the Work Group informing the WWW organization by communicating and educating strategic plans in and outside of milestones.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities Required

• Minimum of 7+ years of merchandising experience
• 5+ years of leadership/management experience preferred
• Strong relationships and experience with product development, design, production and buying teams
• Deep knowledge of current Work market
• Extensive brand knowledge and understanding of international markets and competitors
• Natural leader and problem solver with a growth mindset
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Strong excel and PowerPoint skills
• Bachelor's degree required/MBA preferred or equivalent work experience.

Working Conditions

In office position with domestic and international travel required (approx. 20%).

Flexible, hybrid work schedule: three days in office and two days remote.

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. We 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.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills which may be required.