Head of Footwear Merchandising

In short
As the Head of Merchandising, Footwear, you will chart the strategic course for the footwear category across the Americas, ensuring product assortments align seamlessly with On’s premium brand vision and regional commercial needs. Reporting to the Director of Merchandising, AMER on the Americas Merchandising team, you will simplify regional complexity to drive a cohesive omnichannel strategy that captures market opportunities and powers brand love. This role is a critical pillar in balancing global product direction with regional execution to deliver high-impact results and foster a culture of excellence and innovation

Your Mission

Develop and execute a comprehensive regional merchandising strategy for footwear that aligns with global product vision and regional commercial objectives across wholesale and DTC channels

Lead the seasonal assortment planning process, optimizing product segmentation, account differentiation, and lifecycle management to drive premium growth targets

Drive the regional go-to-market process by fostering tight alignment between global product teams, regional sales, and demand planning to ensure on-time delivery and forecast accuracy

Synthesize competitor analysis, consumer trends, and market dynamics to identify and act on growth opportunities unique to the Americas landscape

Collaborate with analytics teams to translate sales data and market research into actionable insights that refine product offerings and improve commercial outcomes

Track and analyze key performance indicators including sell-through rates, inventory turn, and margin health to optimize category performance

Mentor and develop a high-performing merchandising team, providing coaching that empowers individuals to own their professional growth and functional expertise

Partner across the matrix to bridge gaps between global strategy and local execution, ensuring the footwear category contributes to On’s overall strategic priorities

Your Story

You bring 9+ years of experience in merchandising, product management, or retail buying within a premium global retailer in the footwear or apparel industry

You have 4+ years of experience leading merchandising teams in a high-growth environment, with a proven ability to manage regional scope and cross-functional complexity

Extensive expertise in managing footwear assortments within a vertically integrated or omnichannel brand, balancing central strategy with regional flexibility

Proven track record of achieving high-quality outcomes in margin management, assortment planning, and inventory turnover through data-informed decision-making

Expert analytical skills with the ability to navigate complex data sets and systems to identify underlying trends and root causes

Experience leveraging product lifecycle management (PLM) tools and BI platforms to optimize workflow and strategic planning

Masterful communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence diverse stakeholders and align outputs with broad organizational goals

Deep commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and championing sustainable practices within the product lifecycle

Your Team
You will join the Americas Merchandising team, acting as trusted advisors in setting the vision and direction for product for the region. The team acts as a bridge between our Global Product/Commercial teams and regional business leaders. Our cross-functional interaction is driven by a market-relevant, consumer-focused mindset touching on all departments inside our organization to set a commercial plan and identify profitable growth and act on sales opportunities and actions together. Our Americas team is growing; help us drive that journey.

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