
Director, Merchandising & Design (Swimwear)
JCPenney, New York, NY, United States
Overview
The Director, Merchandising & Design (Swimwear) leads category product strategy and execution across a multi-brand apparel portfolio, operating across both Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) and Wholesale channels. This role serves as a strategic partner to brand teams and is accountable for wholesale category performance, delivering product that meets brand standards while achieving margin and speed-to-market objectives.
Responsibilities
Define and drive seasonal category vision, line architecture, and assortment strategies
Partner with Brand Presidents and Design leaders to influence DTC assortment and design decisions
Own end-to-end product strategy and execution for wholesale categories, including assortment, pricing, and key items
Deliver against financial targets including IMU, cost, and AUR
Drive speed-to-market through disciplined calendar and milestone management
Partner cross-functionally with Sourcing, Technical Design, Planning, and Wholesale teams
Identify and scale cross-brand product platforms and efficiencies
Qualifications
10–15+ years of experience in apparel design, merchandising, or category leadership
Strong commercial acumen including margin, pricing, and assortment strategy
Experience operating in multi-brand or matrixed organizations
Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive decisions
What You Get
Enjoy a rewarding career at Catalyst, where we offer a competitive benefits package, a vibrant work environment, and the opportunity to make a difference at one of America's most iconic brands.
Generous Benefits: Medical/dental/vision insurance starting on day one, term life insurance, paid vacation/holidays, 401(k) Savings Plan with company match, and an associate discount on JCPenney merchandise.
Opportunities for Growth and Development: We are committed to helping our employees grow their careers and develop their skills. We offer a variety of training and development programs, as well as opportunities for advancement.
Collaborative and supportive Culture: We believe in creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We encourage teamwork and collaboration, and we are always looking for ways to support our employees' success.
About Catalyst
Catalyst Brands reflects the bringing together the rich heritages of our brands with modern excitement and a new vision for success. Six iconic brands came together under a unified powerhouse portfolio to celebrate the essence of American style. We will leverage our rich history, resources and best-in-class industry talent to further build the success of our brands. At Catalyst we are united in one shared purpose: We exist to ignite America’s most beloved retail brands to make fashion accessible to all.
For more opportunities to join our team please visit our careers page.
Pay Range
USD $128,700.00 - USD $234,000.00 /Yr.
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The Director, Merchandising & Design (Swimwear) leads category product strategy and execution across a multi-brand apparel portfolio, operating across both Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) and Wholesale channels. This role serves as a strategic partner to brand teams and is accountable for wholesale category performance, delivering product that meets brand standards while achieving margin and speed-to-market objectives.
Responsibilities
Define and drive seasonal category vision, line architecture, and assortment strategies
Partner with Brand Presidents and Design leaders to influence DTC assortment and design decisions
Own end-to-end product strategy and execution for wholesale categories, including assortment, pricing, and key items
Deliver against financial targets including IMU, cost, and AUR
Drive speed-to-market through disciplined calendar and milestone management
Partner cross-functionally with Sourcing, Technical Design, Planning, and Wholesale teams
Identify and scale cross-brand product platforms and efficiencies
Qualifications
10–15+ years of experience in apparel design, merchandising, or category leadership
Strong commercial acumen including margin, pricing, and assortment strategy
Experience operating in multi-brand or matrixed organizations
Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive decisions
What You Get
Enjoy a rewarding career at Catalyst, where we offer a competitive benefits package, a vibrant work environment, and the opportunity to make a difference at one of America's most iconic brands.
Generous Benefits: Medical/dental/vision insurance starting on day one, term life insurance, paid vacation/holidays, 401(k) Savings Plan with company match, and an associate discount on JCPenney merchandise.
Opportunities for Growth and Development: We are committed to helping our employees grow their careers and develop their skills. We offer a variety of training and development programs, as well as opportunities for advancement.
Collaborative and supportive Culture: We believe in creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We encourage teamwork and collaboration, and we are always looking for ways to support our employees' success.
About Catalyst
Catalyst Brands reflects the bringing together the rich heritages of our brands with modern excitement and a new vision for success. Six iconic brands came together under a unified powerhouse portfolio to celebrate the essence of American style. We will leverage our rich history, resources and best-in-class industry talent to further build the success of our brands. At Catalyst we are united in one shared purpose: We exist to ignite America’s most beloved retail brands to make fashion accessible to all.
For more opportunities to join our team please visit our careers page.
Pay Range
USD $128,700.00 - USD $234,000.00 /Yr.
#J-18808-Ljbffr