Senior Merchant, Collaborations & 3rd Party

vineyard vines; Stamford (CT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous employee discount

401-K and commuter benefits

Flexible spending accounts

Onsite gym and wellness programs

Competitive vacation policy

Job summary

vineyard vines is seeking a Senior Merchant for Collaborations to lead merchandising strategies for limited-edition collections and partnerships. This role requires 7+ years of experience in merchandising, strong analytical skills, and a passion for the brand.

Key responsibilities include developing business strategies, managing collaborative projects, and working closely with cross-functional teams to drive brand awareness and revenue growth.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in merchandising or product management.
• Proven experience managing collaborative product collections and strategic partnerships.
• Exceptional communication and relationship management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the long-term merchandising strategy for collaborations.
• Partner with leadership to align on collaboration opportunities and product strategies.
• Establish sales and inventory objectives for collaboration businesses.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Project management

Strong financial acumen

Relationship management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field

Job description

Senior Merchant, Collaborations & 3rd Party

Job Category: Senior Manager

Requisition Number: SENIO004421

• Full-Time
• On-site

Locations

Showing 1 location

CT Corp HQ
181 Harbor Dr
Stamford, CT 06902, USA

Overview

The Senior Merchant, Collaborations is responsible for developing and executing the merchandising strategy for the brand's collaboration and 3rd party business. Reporting directly to the Head of Merchandising, this role will lead the product vision and assortment strategy for limited‑edition collections and strategic partnerships, ensuring each collaboration authentically reflects the vineyard vines brand while driving customer excitement, brand awareness, and revenue growth.

Key Responsibilities

Collaboration Strategy & Business Development

• Develop and execute the long‑term merchandising strategy for the Vineyard Vines collaborations & 3rd party business.
• Identify, evaluate, and recommend partnership opportunities that align with brand objectives, customer interests, and growth goals.
• Partner with leadership to build a robust collaborations pipeline across brands, influencers, sports, entertainment, nonprofits, and lifestyle categories.
• Analyze market trends, consumer insights, and competitive activity to inform collaboration opportunities and product strategies.
• Build business cases and assortment recommendations for new partnerships.
• Lead product assortment strategy for all collaboration collections across apparel, accessories, and licensed categories.
• Define category architecture, pricing strategies, product positioning, and launch plans for each partnership.
• Partner with Design and Product Development to ensure products reflect both Vineyard Vines brand standards and partner objectives.
• Manage assortment productivity, SKU optimization, and lifecycle planning.
• Utilize sales performance, customer insights, and trend analysis to inform future product decisions.

Cross‑Functional Leadership

• Serve as the primary merchandising lead for collaboration partners and internal stakeholders.
• Work closely with the broader Merchandising team across genders.
• Partner closely with Marketing to develop compelling product stories, launch strategies, and customer engagement plans.
• Collaborate with Planning and Allocation teams to establish forecasts, inventory strategies, and business targets.
• Coordinate with Legal, Licensing, Product Development, and Operations teams to ensure seamless execution and compliance with partnership agreements.
• Lead milestone meetings and maintain alignment across multiple collaboration initiatives.

Business Performance & Analytics

• Establish sales, margin, and inventory objectives for collaboration businesses.
• Monitor and analyze performance throughout product lifecycles and launch periods.
• Develop post‑launch recaps and partnership performance reviews, identifying opportunities for growth and optimization.
• Leverage customer data and market intelligence to refine future collaboration strategies.
• Present business results, product recommendations, and strategic opportunities to senior leadership.

Brand & Customer Experience

• Champion collaborations that strengthen Vineyard Vines' brand positioning and create memorable customer experiences.
• Ensure all partnership products deliver exceptional quality, storytelling, and brand authenticity.
• Drive innovation by identifying emerging cultural trends, partnership models, and consumer interests.
• Support exclusive product launches, special events, and partnership activations as needed.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, Fashion Merchandising, or a related field.
• 7+ years of merchandising, buying, product management, or brand partnership experience, preferably within apparel, lifestyle, or consumer brands.
• Proven experience managing collaborative product collections, licensing programs, or strategic partnerships.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with experience managing sales, margin, and inventory performance.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to influence cross‑functional teams and external partners without direct authority.
• Highly organized with strong project management capabilities and attention to detail.
• Passion for the Vineyard Vines brand, lifestyle, and customer.
• Ability to travel as needed to support partner relationships and product launches.

Benefits

• We have a fun‑spirited entrepreneurial culture filled with truly “good” people
• We offer a generous employee discount so you can rep our lifestyle on‑and‑off the boat
• We offer a competitive salary package, 401‑K, commuter benefits, paid‑family leave, health savings, flexible spending accounts, life & disability insurance
• We have an onsite gym as well as health & financial wellness programs to keep you active
• We offer 2 summer Fridays to take off in addition to a competitive vacation policy & holiday calendar

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.