What are the responsibilities and job description for the Merchandise Manager position at Sporting JAX?
JOB TITLE: MERCHANDISE MANAGER
POSITION TYPE: FULL TIME
LOCATION: Jacksonville, Florida
Background: Sporting Club Jacksonville, or “Sporting JAX” is the club founded in 2020 by a local Jacksonville ownership group and named in collaboration with the First Coast community in 2023. The club’s goal is to operate a men’s professional USL Championship club (starting in Spring 2026), a women’s professional USL Super League club (kicking off in Fall 2025) and a USL Youth Academy through work with city and county authorities to develop am ambitious 15,000-25,000 capacity community stadium and training facilities to host the clubs in Northeast Florida.
The ownership group is led by successful business entrepreneur Ricky Caplin and includes sporting legends Tim Tebow and Fred Taylor, as well as experienced professional soccer executive Steve Livingstone and local community innovator Tony Allegretti. Additionally, UF women’s soccer coaching legend Becky Burleigh leads Sporting JAX’s efforts as a consultant to the women’s pro team
The club is a community-oriented organization focused on providing opportunities for youth development, fostering competition, and delivering exceptional professional soccer experiences. The club’s motto is “Lift Every Voice” inspired by Jacksonville son James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Evry Voice” anthem written in Jacksonville in 1900. Living our motto, the club’s stadium and facilities will reach out beyond soccer to other sports and other sporting communities. Sporting JAX exists in part to advance soccer and an equal playing field in our community as well as provide a “sporting chance” for the underserved and marginalized.
Sporting JAX recently announced a merger with Florida Elite Soccer Academy, the largest youth soccer club in Florida with 12,000 players, to create one of the largest youth-to-pro soccer organizations in the United States.
Overview of the United Soccer League (USL)
The United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing professional soccer organization in North America, possessing more than a decade of experience in bringing the world’s game to communities across the United States and Canada. Overseeing the USL Championship (USSF Division II), USL League One (USSF Division III), and USL League Two (Pre-Professional), the organization is built on a proven and recognized model in international football and counts more than 125 clubs in its membership. Based in Tampa, Fla., the USL has grown during the past decade into a model organization with strong corporate partnerships and stable organizational leadership. It features a dedicated staff of more than 60 professionals across 15 departments ranging from operations, digital, communications and club services, each of which provides unparalleled support to member clubs and outside partners. Sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation, the USL is #UnitedForSoccer, moving the game forward in North America.
Job Overview
Sporting JAX is seeking a dynamic Merchandise Manager to oversee and optimize the merchandise strategy for all of its club brand ensuring the right products are available at the right time and priced to maximize profitability. This position will work closely with internal teams to manage product assortments, inventory, online and retail operations, matchday management and sales, and promotional initiatives, while maintaining a consistent and strong brand presence across all retail and online platforms.
Key Responsibilities
Oversee and manage all aspects of Sporting JAX merchandise management, ordering, delivery and fulfillment across the organization including professional, pre-professional, youth and external customer and fan sales.
The role will be based at the Sporting JAX Team Store and will include set up and management of the Team Store, inventory storage and management. In addition to Team Store responsibilities, the Merchandise Manager will oversee delivery, set up/take down and sales of merchandise on matchdays and selected events hiring and managing merchandise sales staff for these events. The position will report to the CEO/COO and will include all inventory management, bookkeeping and reporting on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
The Merchandise Manager will liaise directly with the Sporting JAX front office, soccer operations department, youth soccer departments and will work directly with our distributor We Got Soccer and apparel partner ensuring all management and ordering processes are in place.
Specific Responsibilities
Product Ordering & Inventory Management:
Product Assortment: Develop and manage the product assortment for all Sporting JAX brands, ensuring alignment with brand identity and customer preferences.
Product Ordering: Place and track orders with suppliers to ensure timely availability of merchandise, optimizing product offerings based on sales trends and demand forecasts.
Inventory Oversight: Monitor and manage inventory levels for each brand, ensuring availability while minimizing excess stock, coordinating with suppliers for restocking as needed.
Marketing & Promotions:
Sales Strategy & Promotions: Analyze sales trends and data to inform product ordering and promotional planning. Work with the marketing team to develop and implement effective sales strategies and seasonal promotions.
Brand & Event Integration: Ensure that all merchandise offerings are consistent with branding and marketing efforts, including coordinating product launches and event-specific merchandise for game days and other company events.
Store, Matchday Operations & POS Management:
Store Operations: Oversee the day-to-day operations of merchandise sales across various channels, including online platforms, Team Store and physical merchandise booths at events. Ensure set up, staffing and active selling across all platforms.
POS Management: Manage the point-of-sale system, ensuring smooth transactions and accurate inventory tracking across all sales channels. Troubleshoot any technical issues and provide solutions to improve customer experience.
Online Store Management & Order Fulfillment:
Online Store Oversight: Manage the online store, ensuring the website is up-to-date with current products, pricing, and promotions. Ensure a seamless user experience across the digital platform.
Order Fulfillment: Oversee the order fulfillment process for online orders, ensuring timely shipping, accurate order picking, packaging, and tracking. Coordinate with fulfillment partners to maintain fast and efficient order delivery.
Customer Experience: Ensure the online shopping experience meets customer expectations, including fast processing, clear communication regarding shipping, and easy returns.
Backend Inventory & Reporting:
Inventory Tracking: Use backend systems to track inventory levels, sales performance, and product movement across multiple platforms.
Reporting: Compile sales reports, track product performance, and analyze trends to make informed decisions about future product orders and promotional strategies.
Data Analysis: Provide actionable insights from inventory and sales data to enhance merchandise offerings and operational efficiency.
Customer Service:
Customer Support: Ensure an exceptional customer experience by handling inquiries, resolving issues, and addressing customer feedback related to merchandise, both in-store and online.
Returns & Exchanges: Manage returns and exchanges in compliance with company policies, ensuring customer satisfaction and maintaining positive brand relationships.
General Responsibilities:
Availability: Must be available during regular office hours, with flexibility for event days, weekends, and after-hours responsibilities as needed.
Additional Duties: Assist with special projects as assigned by the CEO/COO and other senior team members.
Required Skills and Qualifications
Experience: Previous experience in merchandise management, retail, or product planning, preferably in a multi-brand or event-based environment.
Skills: Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, excellent communication abilities, and proficiency in inventory and sales tracking.
Technical Proficiency: Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, POS systems, e-commerce platforms, and Asana project management software.
Mindset: Detail-oriented, proactive, and adaptable with the ability to manage multiple brands and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Reports To: CEO/COO
Benefits & Compensation
Competitive annual salary-We are open to both part time and full time applicants
Health benefits
PTO
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.
POSITION TYPE: FULL TIME
LOCATION: Jacksonville, Florida
Background: Sporting Club Jacksonville, or “Sporting JAX” is the club founded in 2020 by a local Jacksonville ownership group and named in collaboration with the First Coast community in 2023. The club’s goal is to operate a men’s professional USL Championship club (starting in Spring 2026), a women’s professional USL Super League club (kicking off in Fall 2025) and a USL Youth Academy through work with city and county authorities to develop am ambitious 15,000-25,000 capacity community stadium and training facilities to host the clubs in Northeast Florida.
The ownership group is led by successful business entrepreneur Ricky Caplin and includes sporting legends Tim Tebow and Fred Taylor, as well as experienced professional soccer executive Steve Livingstone and local community innovator Tony Allegretti. Additionally, UF women’s soccer coaching legend Becky Burleigh leads Sporting JAX’s efforts as a consultant to the women’s pro team
The club is a community-oriented organization focused on providing opportunities for youth development, fostering competition, and delivering exceptional professional soccer experiences. The club’s motto is “Lift Every Voice” inspired by Jacksonville son James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Evry Voice” anthem written in Jacksonville in 1900. Living our motto, the club’s stadium and facilities will reach out beyond soccer to other sports and other sporting communities. Sporting JAX exists in part to advance soccer and an equal playing field in our community as well as provide a “sporting chance” for the underserved and marginalized.
Sporting JAX recently announced a merger with Florida Elite Soccer Academy, the largest youth soccer club in Florida with 12,000 players, to create one of the largest youth-to-pro soccer organizations in the United States.
Overview of the United Soccer League (USL)
The United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing professional soccer organization in North America, possessing more than a decade of experience in bringing the world’s game to communities across the United States and Canada. Overseeing the USL Championship (USSF Division II), USL League One (USSF Division III), and USL League Two (Pre-Professional), the organization is built on a proven and recognized model in international football and counts more than 125 clubs in its membership. Based in Tampa, Fla., the USL has grown during the past decade into a model organization with strong corporate partnerships and stable organizational leadership. It features a dedicated staff of more than 60 professionals across 15 departments ranging from operations, digital, communications and club services, each of which provides unparalleled support to member clubs and outside partners. Sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation, the USL is #UnitedForSoccer, moving the game forward in North America.
Job Overview
Sporting JAX is seeking a dynamic Merchandise Manager to oversee and optimize the merchandise strategy for all of its club brand ensuring the right products are available at the right time and priced to maximize profitability. This position will work closely with internal teams to manage product assortments, inventory, online and retail operations, matchday management and sales, and promotional initiatives, while maintaining a consistent and strong brand presence across all retail and online platforms.
Key Responsibilities
Oversee and manage all aspects of Sporting JAX merchandise management, ordering, delivery and fulfillment across the organization including professional, pre-professional, youth and external customer and fan sales.
The role will be based at the Sporting JAX Team Store and will include set up and management of the Team Store, inventory storage and management. In addition to Team Store responsibilities, the Merchandise Manager will oversee delivery, set up/take down and sales of merchandise on matchdays and selected events hiring and managing merchandise sales staff for these events. The position will report to the CEO/COO and will include all inventory management, bookkeeping and reporting on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
The Merchandise Manager will liaise directly with the Sporting JAX front office, soccer operations department, youth soccer departments and will work directly with our distributor We Got Soccer and apparel partner ensuring all management and ordering processes are in place.
Specific Responsibilities
Product Ordering & Inventory Management:
Product Assortment: Develop and manage the product assortment for all Sporting JAX brands, ensuring alignment with brand identity and customer preferences.
Product Ordering: Place and track orders with suppliers to ensure timely availability of merchandise, optimizing product offerings based on sales trends and demand forecasts.
Inventory Oversight: Monitor and manage inventory levels for each brand, ensuring availability while minimizing excess stock, coordinating with suppliers for restocking as needed.
Marketing & Promotions:
Sales Strategy & Promotions: Analyze sales trends and data to inform product ordering and promotional planning. Work with the marketing team to develop and implement effective sales strategies and seasonal promotions.
Brand & Event Integration: Ensure that all merchandise offerings are consistent with branding and marketing efforts, including coordinating product launches and event-specific merchandise for game days and other company events.
Store, Matchday Operations & POS Management:
Store Operations: Oversee the day-to-day operations of merchandise sales across various channels, including online platforms, Team Store and physical merchandise booths at events. Ensure set up, staffing and active selling across all platforms.
POS Management: Manage the point-of-sale system, ensuring smooth transactions and accurate inventory tracking across all sales channels. Troubleshoot any technical issues and provide solutions to improve customer experience.
Online Store Management & Order Fulfillment:
Online Store Oversight: Manage the online store, ensuring the website is up-to-date with current products, pricing, and promotions. Ensure a seamless user experience across the digital platform.
Order Fulfillment: Oversee the order fulfillment process for online orders, ensuring timely shipping, accurate order picking, packaging, and tracking. Coordinate with fulfillment partners to maintain fast and efficient order delivery.
Customer Experience: Ensure the online shopping experience meets customer expectations, including fast processing, clear communication regarding shipping, and easy returns.
Backend Inventory & Reporting:
Inventory Tracking: Use backend systems to track inventory levels, sales performance, and product movement across multiple platforms.
Reporting: Compile sales reports, track product performance, and analyze trends to make informed decisions about future product orders and promotional strategies.
Data Analysis: Provide actionable insights from inventory and sales data to enhance merchandise offerings and operational efficiency.
Customer Service:
Customer Support: Ensure an exceptional customer experience by handling inquiries, resolving issues, and addressing customer feedback related to merchandise, both in-store and online.
Returns & Exchanges: Manage returns and exchanges in compliance with company policies, ensuring customer satisfaction and maintaining positive brand relationships.
General Responsibilities:
Availability: Must be available during regular office hours, with flexibility for event days, weekends, and after-hours responsibilities as needed.
Additional Duties: Assist with special projects as assigned by the CEO/COO and other senior team members.
Required Skills and Qualifications
Experience: Previous experience in merchandise management, retail, or product planning, preferably in a multi-brand or event-based environment.
Skills: Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, excellent communication abilities, and proficiency in inventory and sales tracking.
Technical Proficiency: Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, POS systems, e-commerce platforms, and Asana project management software.
Mindset: Detail-oriented, proactive, and adaptable with the ability to manage multiple brands and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Reports To: CEO/COO
Benefits & Compensation
Competitive annual salary-We are open to both part time and full time applicants
Health benefits
PTO
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.
