Senior Director - Women's Sportswear Sales & Merchandising

Company: Bernardo Location: New York, NY Position Type: Full-Time | 100% On-Site (Monday–Friday) Reports To: VP of Sales & Merchandising Compensation: $165,000–$200,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications, plus sales commission structure. About Bernardo Bernardo is an established fashion company recognized for its expertise in women’s outerwear, combining fashion, quality, innovation and exceptional value. As we continue to expand our women’s sportswear business, we are seeking an experienced, entrepreneurial and results-driven executive to help shape our product direction, strengthen our market positioning and accelerate wholesale sales growth. The Opportunity We are looking for a dynamic Senior Director of Women’s Sportswear Sales & Merchandising who brings a unique combination of strong merchandising expertise, established wholesale relationships and a proven ability to build and grow a business. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and hands‑on leader who understands the contemporary and modern sportswear market, can identify opportunities within the retail landscape, and knows how to translate compelling product assortments into profitable sales. This individual will play a key role in defining the direction of Bernardo’s sportswear division while actively developing new accounts, expanding distribution and driving revenue. Key Responsibilities Wholesale Sales & Business Development Develop and execute a strategic wholesale sales plan to accelerate growth within the sportswear division. Leverage established relationships with department stores, specialty retailers, national chains and other key wholesale accounts. Identify, pursue and secure new branded and private label business opportunities. Personally lead new account development, buyer presentations, negotiations and seasonal sales meetings. Build and manage a strong pipeline of new business opportunities. Establish and achieve seasonal and annual sales objectives. Strengthen existing retail partnerships while expanding distribution into new channels. Analyze market opportunities, competitive assortments and retailer needs to identify areas for growth. Merchandising & Product Strategy Help define and refine Bernardo’s sportswear identity, target customer and competitive positioning. Partner closely with the design team to establish a clear, cohesive and commercially relevant product direction. Lead seasonal merchandising strategies, assortment architecture, capsule collections and key item development. Identify emerging fashion trends, consumer preferences and market opportunities. Develop compelling product assortments that balance fashion, quality, value and commercial appeal. Establish appropriate price architecture, product classifications and seasonal delivery strategies. Utilize buyer feedback, retail selling information and market insights to guide product development. Ensure the collection presents a clear and differentiated point of view within the competitive retail landscape. Business Management & Leadership Report directly to the VP of Sales & Merchandising, collaborating on divisional strategy, sales objectives and long‑term growth initiatives. Take ownership of the sportswear division’s sales performance and commercial development. Develop annual and seasonal sales plans, financial objectives and growth strategies. Monitor sales performance, gross margins, account productivity and profitability. Collaborate cross‑functionally with design, sourcing, production and executive leadership. Identify opportunities to improve assortment productivity, operational efficiency and overall business performance. Help establish a scalable and profitable sportswear business. Qualifications & Experience Minimum 10–15 years of progressive experience in women’s contemporary or modern sportswear. Proven track record of successfully developing and growing wholesale apparel businesses. Strong existing relationships with department stores, specialty retailers and national retail accounts. Demonstrated ability to open new accounts and generate meaningful wholesale sales. Extensive merchandising experience, including assortment planning, product positioning, seasonal development and pricing strategy. Strong understanding of women’s sportswear trends, fabrications, silhouettes, fit and consumer preferences. Experience in both branded wholesale and private label business preferred. Proven ability to collaborate effectively with design and product development teams. Strong financial acumen, including sales forecasting, margin management and profitability analysis. Excellent presentation, negotiation, communication and leadership skills. Entrepreneurial, highly motivated and results‑oriented, with the ability to operate both strategically and hands‑on. Ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast‑paced environment. The Ideal Candidate We are seeking a true merchant and business builder—someone who is equally comfortable sitting with a buyer to close business and collaborating with a designer to develop the right collection. You have a strong commercial instinct, understand what drives successful retail assortments and know how to create a compelling reason for retailers to add a new brand or expand an existing partnership. You bring established industry relationships, a clear product point of view and a demonstrated ability to turn market opportunities into sustainable, profitable revenue. Most importantly, you are passionate about building a business and excited by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Why Join Bernardo? This is an opportunity to help shape and grow the women’s sportswear division of an established fashion company with strong design, sourcing and production capabilities. Working directly with the VP of Sales & Merchandising, you will have significant involvement in defining product strategy, developing retail partnerships and driving the future growth of the business. We offer a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment where strong ideas, commercial expertise and results are valued. Base Salary: $150,000–$200,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications. Schedule: Full-Time one site 5 days a week Reporting: Directly to the VP of Sales & Merchandising. #J-18808-Ljbffr