What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Lead - Merchandiser, Footwear position at On?
In short
The Senior Lead - Merchandiser, Footwear will play a critical role in supporting the strategic direction, assortment planning, and product execution for the Footwear category in the Americas. Reporting to the Head of Merchandising, Footwear, this role focuses on delivering customer-centric assortments that align with brand goals, drive growth, and enhance the omnichannel experience across wholesale and DTC channels. This role requires a balance of analytical expertise, creativity, and market knowledge to ensure successful product positioning and performance within the competitive landscape.
Your mission
On is a place that is centered around growth and progress. We offer an environment designed to give people the tools to develop holistically – to stay active, to learn, explore and innovate. Our distinctive approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere, with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, so each person is led by purpose.
On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination. We are requesting that you provide sensitive demographic information such as gender identity and race/ethnicity to help us ensure that we are creating equitable and fair experiences for all potential future team members. You are not required to provide this demographic information and this information will in no way impact your eligibility for hire.
The Senior Lead - Merchandiser, Footwear will play a critical role in supporting the strategic direction, assortment planning, and product execution for the Footwear category in the Americas. Reporting to the Head of Merchandising, Footwear, this role focuses on delivering customer-centric assortments that align with brand goals, drive growth, and enhance the omnichannel experience across wholesale and DTC channels. This role requires a balance of analytical expertise, creativity, and market knowledge to ensure successful product positioning and performance within the competitive landscape.
Your mission
- Seasonal Assortment Planning: Support the development and execution of seasonal FTW assortments, aligning with merchandising strategy, brand vision, and optimizing segmentation, lifecycle, and sell-through based on data insights.
- Go-to-Market Execution: Partner cross-functionally (sales, demand planning, product, marketing) to ensure timely product launches, go-to-market readiness, and delivery timelines, building channel- and account-specific assortment plans.
- Product & Business Optimization: Monitor product performance to identify improvement opportunities and make data-driven recommendations to drive growth, choice count optimization, and account differentiation.
- Market Insights & Competitive Analysis: Research market trends, consumer behavior, and competitive products to identify consumer-driven opportunities that shape assortment strategies and support revenue targets.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with merchandising, sales, demand planning, and marketing teams to ensure alignment on forecasts, inventory needs, growth objectives, and seasonal storytelling across channels.
- Financial Management & Reporting: Analyze KPIs like sales, margin, and inventory; support financial planning for seasonal and annual goals; and track category performance to recommend actionable improvements.
- 7 years of experience in merchandising or product management, preferably in the footwear, activewear, or sportswear industries
- Proven experience leading seasonal assortment planning that balances brand vision, commercial performance, and market opportunity
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions
- Deep understanding of both wholesale and DTC channels, with experience optimizing assortments in an omnichannel environment
- Demonstrated ability to leverage consumer insights and market trends to shape strategic merchandising decisions
- Strong organizational and communication skills, with a collaborative mindset and ability to drive cross-functional alignment from strategy to execution
On is a place that is centered around growth and progress. We offer an environment designed to give people the tools to develop holistically – to stay active, to learn, explore and innovate. Our distinctive approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere, with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, so each person is led by purpose.
On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination. We are requesting that you provide sensitive demographic information such as gender identity and race/ethnicity to help us ensure that we are creating equitable and fair experiences for all potential future team members. You are not required to provide this demographic information and this information will in no way impact your eligibility for hire.
