Sr. Manager, Merchandising & Vendor Strategy

Sr. Manager, Merchandising & Vendor Strategy Job Summary The Sr. Manager, Merchandising & Vendor Strategy leads category planning for the buying team, overseeing vendor coordination and assortment governance across retail product categories. This role translates strategic priorities into structured category plans, ensures consistency across product assortments, and drives cross-functional collaboration with merchandising, inventory planning, marketing, and eCommerce teams. The position reports to the Associate Director of Brand Merchandising & Integrated Commerce. This role is focused on strategic planning, coordination, and governance, rather than transactional buying or independent purchasing authority. Why Work at the University Campus Store? Employees at the University of Utah Campus Store enjoy a wide range of benefits that support both personal and professional well-being. These include: Employee discounts on Campus Store merchandise Opportunities for career growth and advancement within the store Flexible scheduling opportunities. The Campus Store is consistently ranked among the top 15 institutionally run stores in the nation and proudly serves over 40,000 students, faculty and staff, along with millions of visitors each year. Learn more about our mission and values here www.store.utah.edu Learn more about the great benefits of working for University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu Responsibilities • Lead category planning across all product areas, ensuring all categories have documented seasonal and annual plans aligned with institutional priorities and financial targets • Own assortment governance and SKU strategy, including SKU rationalization, optimized assortment structure, and consistent lifecycle management (new, active, clearance, discontinued) • Establish and manage category frameworks, including pricing guidelines, margin targets (for leadership approval), assortment architecture, and product mix strategies • Oversee vendor and licensing coordination, ensuring vendor performance meets expectations and all licensing and trademark requirements are enforced • Lead cross-functional alignment to ensure merchandising, inventory planning, marketing, and eCommerce teams operate from unified category plans and timelines • Partner with the Manager, Inventory Planning & Analytics to align assortment plans with forecasting and open-to-buy constraints, proactively addressing inventory risks • Direct product development and launch timelines, ensuring cross-functional readiness and early identification and mitigation of risks or delays • Monitor category performance at a portfolio level, reviewing sales, sell-through, and inventory health while identifying trends and recommending adjustments • Lead and develop Category Buyers by setting priorities, coaching on analysis and decision-making, and ensuring consistent use of tools and metrics • Own merchandising process governance by maintaining documented standard operating procedures and ensuring adherence to approved frameworks and workflows Minimum Qualifications EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work experience). Manager, Inventory Control Management: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience. Preferences • Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. • Experience in merchandising strategy, vendor coordination, or category planning. • Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills. • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple categories and cross-functional priorities. • Experience working within institutional, regulated, or policy-driven environments preferred. • Familiarity with ERP systems and merchandising tools (NetSuite preferred). Special Instructions Requisition Number: PRN44661B Full Time or Part Time? Full Time Work Schedule Summary: M-F, 8a-5p, some weekends, holidays and late nights. Department: 00435 - University Campus Store Location: Campus Pay Rate Range: $80,000 - $90,000 DOE Close Date: 7/6/2026 Open Until Filled: To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/199681 jeid-53c2ae03dfcef84e9672272874163ff3