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Senior Merchant, Direct - Converse

Converse

Hilversum
Full-time
5-10 years experience
On-site

Key Skills

Merchandising
Assortment Planning
Seasonal Buying
In-Season Trading
Retail Math
Sales Analysis
Margin Analysis
Sell-Through Analysis
Inventory Management
Demand Forecasting
Omni-Channel Retail
Consumer Insights
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Communication
Commercial Decision-Making

Job Description

Who You'll Work With This role will sit within Converse Global Marketplace Merchandising and partner closely with Merchandising, Planning, Allocation, Marketing, Retail and Digital teams to deliver consumer-right assortments across stores and digital platforms. This role reports into the Merchandising Manager, WE and is an individual contributor role. Who We Are Looking For We are looking for a consumer-obsessed merchant with strong retail acumen, omni-channel experience and the ability to build and execute our product strategy into profitable assortments for Western Europe Direct. This person is both analytical and product-led, comfortable using sell-through, traffic, conversion, AOV, margin, inventory and consumer insights to make clear recommendations. They bring strong cross-functional influence, collaboration and communication skills, with the confidence to manage competing priorities across seasonal planning and in-season trading. The ideal candidate understands how to build assortments that serve the consumer, elevate the brand and deliver business results across physical retail and digital channels. Proven experience in merchandising, buying, planning, retail or e-commerce experience, preferably within footwear or apparel. Proven experience building assortments, executing seasonal buys and managing in-season trading, using performance data to inform future product and assortment strategies. Strong analytical skills and retail math fluency, including sales, margin, sell-through, inventory productivity and forecast inputs. Ability to influence across functions, present recommendations clearly and operate with agility in a fast-paced marketplace environment. Ability to influence across functions, present recommendations clearly and operate with agility in a fast-paced marketplace environment.;">Ability to influence across functions, present recommendations clearly and operate with agility in a fast-paced marketplace environment. A collaborative, innovative thinker who proactively connects across teams, challenges existing ways of working, and turns new ideas into action. Travel: Ability to travel up to 15%, including seasonal milestone meetings, marketplace visits and cross-functional business reviews as needed. What You'll Work On You will execute the WE Direct merchandising strategy from seasonal assortment creation and buy execution, as well as in-season management, helping ensure the right product shows up in the right channel, at the right time, with a clear consumer point of view. Build and manage seasonal Direct assortments for Western Europe across stores and digital, balancing brand priorities, consumer demand, commercial opportunities and inventory health. Own the execution of seasonal buys in close partnership with Planning and Allocation, including buy quantities, demand forecasts, depth, segmentation and replenishment recommendations. Own product cuts throughout the seasonal buy process, making clear, data-informed decisions that protect assortment intent, inventory health and financial targets. Analyze weekly business performance across key metrics such as revenue, margin, traffic, conversion, AOV, sell-through, weeks of supply and inventory productivity to identify risks and opportunities. Turn insights into action. Use consumer, marketplace, trend and competitive insights to shape seasonal product priorities, pricing recommendations and future assortment decisions. Collaborate with Marketing, Retail, Digital partners to connect product stories, launch plans and commercial moments across Direct touchpoints. Prepare clear recaps, hindsight analysis and forward-looking recommendations for seasonal reviews, leadership meetings and cross-functional business conversations. Please note, no relocation offered for this role.

Core Responsibilities

Build and manage seasonal Direct assortments for Western Europe across stores and digital channels, executing buys and product cuts in partnership with Planning and Allocation. Analyze business and consumer performance, then turn insights into assortment, pricing, inventory, and product recommendations while collaborating with Marketing, Retail, and Digital teams.

Requirements

The role calls for proven experience in merchandising, buying, planning, retail, or e-commerce, preferably in footwear or apparel, with experience building assortments, executing seasonal buys, and managing in-season trading. Candidates should have strong analytical and retail math skills, be able to influence and communicate across functions, and work effectively in a fast-paced marketplace.

About Converse

Industry: Retail

Company size: 1,001-5,000 employees

With a 115-plus-year legacy behind us, we’re looking to the future — a future in which conformity falls and originality rises. A brand of and for creators, we provoke and enable those independent enough not to follow to challenge convention through their ideas, actions, and ingenuity. We design so you can express your true self. We innovate so you can leap before you look. We create space for you and other mavericks and dreamers to break the rules, together. Because rules limit possibilities. Based in Boston. Part of NIKE, Inc., but distinctly ourselves.

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