Job Description

The Director of Merchandising & Product Development leads the product strategy and design direction from concept through production, managing licensed product development in close partnership with external partners. This role ensures seasonal assortments align with brand identity and market trends, oversees product and packaging approvals, and maintains brand consistency across consumer touchpoints.

Responsibilities

• Conduct seasonal meetings with retail partners to align product concepts with business and end consumer needs
• Oversee product development process to ensure products meet brand standards and timelines
• Partner with SVP, Product Development & Merchandising in researching/identifying seasonal fashion direction and merchandise trends
• Research, gather, analyze, and identify the market needs to ideate, develop, and prototype new product opportunities and concepts
• Develop and present seasonal trend analysis and boards to senior management and licensing partners
• Conceptualize, style and execute seasonal photoshoots for Home product packaging, POS and other marketing needs
• Collaborate with Creative Services to create innovative and effective branding
• Communicate regularly with licensees to enhance teamwork and achieve a shared vision regarding product ideas, designs, fabrication and quality requirements
• Manage product approval process flow through in house software
• Collaborate with licensees to resolve distribution, product development and product performance issues
• Educate licensees, agents and other business partners about proper brand image and visual representation to ensure marketing synergies and brand aesthetic among licensed products
• Attend financial and market analysis around existing and potential partnerships with brand, finance and legal team to support product development strategies and business plans as required
• Assist in various activities including marketing, PR, retail development, event management, and buyer relationships

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business Administration, or related field
• 10+ years of progressive experience in merchandising, product development, or related areas, with demonstrated leadership in partnering with cross-functional teams
• Proven ability to lead product strategy from concept through production, balancing creative vision with business objectives
• Strong understanding of merchandising and buying best practices, with a track record of driving successful product assortments
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills; able to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and adept at managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate market trends and consumer insights into innovative product solutions
• Experience working with licensing partners and navigating brand standards across distributed teams

Benefits

• No benefits