Merchandising Director

At Boston Proper, we put our passion and expertise into everything we do. You’ll find it in our commitment to unique designs and polished looks that help women feel as fearlessly feminine and as beautifully powerful as they are. We hold our people, our customers, and our brand in the highest regard. Our people drive our businesses, so we strive to attract the best in our industry. They have different life experiences and educational and cultural backgrounds, but they share many things in common: commitment to teamwork, to growing great brands, and to building a future full of possibilities.

We are seeking a Merchandising Director to join our dynamic team as a result-driven leader responsible for setting and executing the merchandising vision to drive business growth. This individual owns the financial and product strategy, leveraging data, customer insights, and market trends to curate compelling assortments that resonate with our customer, Lucy. The Director leads a team of high-performing merchants, fostering innovation, accountability, and collaboration across all functions, ensuring a seamless and profitable customer experience across all channels.

This position reports to the Vice President for Merchandising & Trend and mentors the broader merchandising team to execute cohesive and effective strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Business Growth

• Define and drive the merchandising strategy, ensuring alignment with Boston Proper’s brand vision, Unified Commerce philosophy, and financial objectives.
• Own the business, delivering topline sales, gross margin, inventory productivity, and profitability targets while maintaining Boston Proper’s brand integrity.
• Lead with a customer-first mindset, using data analytics and customer insights to optimize assortments, identify growth opportunities, and mitigate risks.
• Anticipate market shifts, leveraging trend forecasting and competitive analysis to ensure a differentiated, compelling, and on-brand product offering.
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives that enhance product performance, elevate brand positioning, and strengthen customer loyalty.

Merchandising & Assortment Excellence

• Oversee seasonal product planning, ensuring the right balance of fashion, core, and exclusive offerings tailored to our customer’s lifestyle.
• Optimize product lifecycle management, from concept to markdown, ensuring speed to market and maximizing profitability.
• Lead pricing and promotional strategies that balance margin goals with customer engagement and competitive positioning.
• Leverage data-driven insights to adjust in-season strategies, manage inventory risk, and drive product storytelling across all channels.
• Champion innovation, fostering new ways to test, iterate, and enhance product assortments that align with evolving customer needs.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Influence

• Partner with Design, Planning, Sourcing, and Marketing to ensure a seamless go-to-market strategy and storytelling approach.
• Influence senior leadership, providing strategic recommendations backed by financial and customer insights.
• Drive alignment across teams, ensuring merchandising strategies integrate with Boston Proper’s Unified Commerce approach for a seamless customer experience.
• Champion digital-first merchandising, ensuring a consistent and compelling experience across e-commerce, digital marketing, and customer service touchpoints.

Talent Development & Team Leadership

• Inspire, mentor, and develop a best-in-class merchandising team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation.
• Coach team members on strategic thinking, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making, preparing them for future leadership roles.
• Drive a high-performance culture, setting clear expectations, measuring results, and celebrating wins.

Experience/Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in business, fashion merchandising, or related field

10 years of merchandising experience, with a proven track record of driving revenue, profitability, and strategic business growth in apparel or fashion retail

5 years of leadership experience, with a passion for coaching and developing high-performing teams

Deep analytical acumen, with expertise in sales forecasting, inventory management, and financial planning

Strong business acumen and analytical skills, balancing creativity with a data-driven mindset to make strategic decisions

Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, influence senior stakeholders, and drive business alignment

Experience with Unified Commerce strategies, leveraging digital tools and customer data to optimize product performance

Strong communication, negotiation, problem-solving skills and presentation skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with ERP/retail analytics tools

Willingness to travel as needed

Company Benefits:

• Competitive Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life/ADD Insurance
• 401k with company match
• Flexible and generous Paid Time Off policy
• Merchandise Discount
• Company Bonus
• Pet Insurance

Boston Proper Values

Our team loves to work hard and have fun. We believe in collaboration, creativity, and pushing boundaries to build a brand that empowers women to feel fearlessly feminine.

If you're a strategic merchandising leader who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment, we’d love to hear from you!