Job Description
Are you a visionary merchandising strategist with a passion for defining retail trends and driving multi-million dollar product portfolios? Vanguard Retail Group is seeking an experienced, analytical, and highly creative Senior Retail Merchandising Manager to lead our product assortment strategy and elevate our brand presence across nationwide digital and brick-and-mortar channels.
In this high-impact role, you will be the driving force behind our buying cycles, product life-cycles, and inventory performance. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional design, marketing, and supply chain teams to curate high-converting product assortments that resonate with modern consumers. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and possess a strong commercial instinct combined with sharp analytical skills, this is your opportunity to shape the future of modern retail.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute end-to-end buying strategies and visual merchandising plans to achieve revenue and gross margin targets.
- Analyze historical sales data, market trends, and consumer behavior metrics to forecast demand and optimize inventory levels.
- Lead negotiation cycles with global vendors and manufacturers to secure competitive pricing, exclusive designs, and favorable terms.
- Collaborate with the visual merchandising and e-commerce teams to ensure cohesive product presentation and optimal digital placement.
- Monitor competitor pricing, product launches, and promotional strategies to maintain our competitive edge in the marketplace.
- Manage and mentor a high-performing team of assistant merchandisers and inventory planners, fostering professional growth.
- Conduct weekly and monthly business reviews with executive stakeholders, providing actionable insights and pivot strategies.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Retail Management, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
- Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive experience in retail merchandising, product buying, or category management.
- Proven track record of managing product categories valued at $20M+ with demonstrable ROI and margin growth.
- Expert-level proficiency in retail math, open-to-buy (OTB) planning, and enterprise ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle Retail).
- Outstanding negotiation skills with a history of building profitable, long-term international vendor relationships.
- Strong analytical mindset with advanced Excel skills and experience utilizing retail BI dashboards (Tableau, Power BI).
- Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and executive leadership.