Senior Manager, Merchandising - KitchenAid Small Appliances

Senior Merchandising Manager

Whirlpool Corporation is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2025, the company reported approximately $16 billion in annual net sales - close to 90% of which were in the Americas - 41,000 employees, and 35 manufacturing and technology research centers.

This Role In Summary

The Senior Merchandising Manager holds direct strategic, operational, and financial ownership over 82% of the total US KitchenAid Small Appliances (KASA) business ($590.1M Net Sales / $303.0M DCM), leading the flagship Stand Mixer, Attachments, and Accessories categories. Reporting to the Director of Commercial Strategy & Operations, this individual contributor role is accountable for overall category Profit & Loss (P&L) performance and serves as the primary commercial authority driving business growth, margin realization, and market share.

Beyond category management, this role holds expanded enterprise scope as the single point of ownership for establishing the US-Wide Model Line Strategy and governing the End-to-End Commercial Phase-In / Phase-Out (PIPO) process across all US KASA categories. Operating with cross-functional authority across Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, Brand, and Global Product teams, this position translates macro business objectives into actionable commercial execution, optimizing portfolio performance, eliminating transition obsolescence, and securing long-term business growth.

This role is located at our Global Headquarters in Benton Harbor, MI, and operates fully onsite Monday through Friday. A comprehensive relocation package is available for eligible candidates.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Category P&L Ownership & Financial Leadership (25%)
  • Direct Financial Accountability: Fully own and manage the P&L for Stand Mixers, Attachments, and Accessories, delivering key metrics including Net Sales ($590M+), Direct Contribution Margin ($300M+ / 93% of total KASA DCM), Price Margin Realization (PMR), Market Share, and Ending Operating Profit (EOP).
  • Trade & Allowance Optimization: Maintain direct commercial oversight over $166.1M in annual trade and promotional allowances (79% of total US KASA allowances). Establish rigorous pricing frameworks and promotional structures that maximize margin realization and return on investment.
  • Channel Architecture: Formulate and enforce data-driven channel strategies to optimize product assortments across Retail and D2C routes to market while actively eliminating channel conflict.
• Enterprise Model Line Strategy & Commercial PIPO Governance (25%)
  • US-Wide Model Line Architecture: Direct and establish the end-to-end model line strategy across all US categories, creating standardized portfolio frameworks that simplify complexity and drive profitable SKU productivity.
  • End-to-End Commercial PIPO Governance: Single point of ownership for the commercial Phase-In / Phase-Out (PIPO) process across the US business. Govern transition roadmaps, line exit strategies, launch execution timelines, and end-of-life markdown strategies to eliminate inventory obsolescence and write-off risks.
  • Cross-Functional Enterprise Alignment: Serve as the central governing link connecting Product, Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, and Marketing to ensure flawless operational execution during product lifecycles.
• Commercial Strategy, Pricing & Demand Generation (20%)
  • Pricing & Promotional Authority: Hold final authority on category pricing execution and promotional calendar design based on market dynamics, competitive intelligence, and predictive elasticity modeling.
  • Integrated Go-To-Market Plans: Partner with Brand Marketing to drive integrated consumer programs and translate field sales requirements back to product development, brand, and supply chain teams.
  • Strategic Planning: Lead commercial input into multi-year strategic business planning (e.g., 2027 Strategy) and peak-season commercial readiness (e.g., Q4 execution strategy).
• Supply Chain Governance & Portfolio Optimization (15%)
  • Demand Forecasting & Availability: Lead demand assumptions and forecasting for the category, partnering closely with Demand & Supply Planning to consistently achieve and maintain >95% product availability.
  • Inventory Risk Mitigation: Monitor real-time sales velocity and inventory levels to mitigate out-of-stock risks during peak periods and eliminate excess inventory buildup.
  • SKU Rationalization: Enforce SKU productivity benchmarks, continually rationalizing non-performing models to prevent unmanaged SKU proliferation.
• Product Launch Commercialization & Leadership Governance (15%)
  • Plan-To-Sell Ownership: Establish the plan-to-sell commercial strategy for all new product launches, defining volume, pricing, and gross margin assumptions for global business cases.
  • Executive Performance Reporting: Lead quarterly and annual business reviews for senior executive leadership, detailing business performance gaps, risk mitigation strategies, and growth opportunities.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher in business

• 5+ years of experience in Category Management, Merchandising, Product Management, Sales, Supply Chain, and/or Finance.

• Proven experience with data analysis and a strong grasp of data-driven decision-making.

• Demonstrated expertise in end-to-end product lifecycle management, model line architecture, and commercial PIPO execution.

Preferred Skills And Experiences

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

• Experience in the consumer goods or small appliance industry.

• Exceptional analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to transform complex data into actionable business strategies.

• Proficiency with data analysis tools such as SQL, BI platforms (e.g., Tableau, Power BI), and advanced spreadsheet functions.

• Strong business and financial acumen.

• Experience communicating across all levels and functions of an organization.

• Experience leading cross-functional project teams.

• Proven organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Effective and clear writing and presentation skills.

What We Offer

Generous benefits package, Whirlpool employee discount, fitness & educational reimbursement programs, kitchenettes, and more! Saint Joseph/Benton Harbor locations: Beautiful, recently renovated office space, Barista Bar, biking/walking trails, and access to The Eddy - Early Childhood Center (depending upon availability - additional costs required).

Additional Information

Whirlpool's Ways of Working

Our goal is to provide an environment that helps you bring your best to Whirlpool every day. While employees in this role work in-person Monday through Friday. We offer flexibility and industry-leading time-off benefits that will help you balance what's important at work and at home, including:

• Always On Flexibility - You will have the autonomy to manage personal, family, and outside-of-work commitments as needed.

• Two-Week Work from Anywhere - Minimum of one-week increments for a total of two weeks per year.

• Sabbatical - Four weeks paid leave after every five years of service.