Ralph Lauren Head of Brand Merchandising, RRL

Company Description
Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.

Position Overview
The Head of Brand Merchandising - RRL will lead and develop the overall brand and product merchandising strategy for RRL brand, inclusive of Men's, Women's, Leathergoods and Shoes. They will drive success through effective product assortment development through collaborative regional partnerships, market analysis and consumer data. The Head of Brand Merchandising has a pivotal role in shaping and protecting the RRL product narrative across all product categories. Blending sharp commercial instincts with a discerning RRL aesthetic, this role ensures every assortment embodies the brand's DNA, resonates with our target client, and drives healthy financial performance. As a key connector between senior leadership, design, and product teams, the Brand Merchandising transforms insight into action-crafting a clear, compelling product strategy grounded in market opportunities and creative vision. Role champions the balance of art and commerce, curating a collection that feels both highly elevated and deeply relevant, while guiding the business toward consistent growth

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Develop and Executive Annual & Seasonal Line Plans aligned with brand positioning and financial objectives; and through development of strong partnerships with Region/Channel Commercial teams with consumer centricity being paramount. Integrate regional insights, competitive intelligence, and brand priorities to ensure the product flow feels both strategically balanced and creatively compelling.

Lead development of product briefs & pricing strategies to maximize sales and profitability; maximizing productivity through sku efficiency

Analyze sales data, market trends, and consumer insights to inform development of seasonal line planning

Partner with Creative Director to drive brand vision through to the consumer in product and all consumer touchpoints from marketing to in store and online experiences

Partner with Design and Production teams to ensure optimal product development and calendar adherence; aligned to the creative direction of the brand while driving required AUC to achieve GM targets

Maintain a nuanced understanding of target customer archetypes. Apply consumer insights, market behavior, and competitive signals to influence product adoption, styling direction, and collection depth.

Participate in Design reviews and weekly Production meetings, ensuring product execution aligns with the creative intent, upholds brand DNA, and delivers on commercial expectations.

Maintain complete ownership of milestone adherence, ensuring timely decisions, clear communication, and smooth transitions across all phases of product development.

Approach challenges with clarity, critical thinking, and a solutions first mindset. Elevate team efficiency, influence tools and processes, and support a culture of continuous improvement

Lead all operational activities required to bring product to market; driving any efficiency opportunities and remaining connected to system requirements.

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

Experience with luxury or premium brands

Progressive apparel focused merchandising experience preferred

Strong negotiation skills

Refined taste level and strong product intuition.

Excellent interpersonal skills supporting a team environment

Strong commercial acumen and analytical skills

Proven track record of driving sales growth and profitability

Excellence in team leadership and cross-functional collaboration

Confident in making informed, timely decisions independently and collaboratively.

Goal and solution oriented: ability to stay focused on creating winning results

Highly motivated, adaptable, and comfortable navigating a fast‑paced luxury environment.

Working knowledge of Retail Math - business terminology, key retail metrics, and calculations

Proficiency in merchandising systems and data analytics tools (preferred)

International market experience

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