Director of Merchandising, Women's Apparel

Job Description

Job Description

Our Heritage: An American Original Since 1977

Founded on the Upper East Side of New York City by brothers Jay and Kevin McLaughlin, J.McLaughlin was built on a simple idea: great style feels personal. From a single neighborhood shop to nearly 200 stores nationwide, we have always believed in being local and loyal—to our customers, our communities, and one another. Today, nearly 1,000 employees bring the brand to life across the country, from Maine to Maui. For over 20 years, our corporate home has been in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where creativity, craftsmanship, and collaboration continue to shape our next chapterGiving back is part of who we are. We support the communities we serve through local partnerships, charitable initiatives, and a belief that businesses should leave places better than they found them.

Overview

We are seeking a Director of Merchandising, Women’s Apparel to join our Merchandising Team, reporting to the Head of Merchandising. This role is responsible for defining and executing merchandising strategies across multiple apparel product categories, driving profitable growth while preserving the integrity of the J.McLaughlin brand.

This position is primarily based in our Greenpoint, Brooklyn office and follows a hybrid schedule, dependent on role and business needs.

About the role

Essential Functions*:

Merchandise Strategy & Assortment Leadership

• Develop and execute merchandising strategies across women’s apparel categories to achieve sales, margin, inventory, and market share objectives.
• Define seasonal assortment architecture, including category roles, SKU productivity targets, pricing strategies, and inventory investments.
• Establish product category strategies across core, seasonal, and fashion classifications.
• Identify market whitespace opportunities, emerging customer trends, and competitive opportunities to drive growth.
• Evaluate customer needs and buying behaviors to inform future product investments.
• Lead assortment planning decisions that balance customer demand, financial objectives, and brand positioning.
• Maintain deep understanding of the competitive landscape across premium apparel, lifestyle, and specialty retail sectors.
• Conduct regular store visits, customer observations, and competitive shopping.
• Analyze customer feedback, industry trends, and performance data to guide strategic decisions.

Financial Ownership

• Own category performance and accountability for: Net Sales, Gross Margin Dollars, Gross Margin %, Initial Markup (IMU), Inventory Turn, Sell-Through, Inventory Productivity
• Partner with Planning to establish seasonal sales forecasts and inventory strategies.
• Drive disciplined open-to-buy management and investment decisions.
• Monitor business performance and proactively identify risks and opportunities.
• Recommend pricing, promotional, markdown, and inventory actions to maximize profitability.

Product Lifecycle Management

• Partner with Design to align product development against category strategies and customer demand.
• Collaborate with Sourcing to balance quality, cost, margin, and speed-to-market objectives.
• Drive lifecycle decisions including:
  • Product introduction
  • Replenishment strategy
  • Chase opportunities
  • Markdown optimization
  • Exit strategies
• Lead seasonal hindsight reviews to improve future assortment decisions.

Omnichannel Merchandising Leadership

• Partner with Stores, E-Commerce, Marketing, and Visual Merchandising to optimize product performance across channels.
• Ensure assortments support both digital and brick-and-mortar growth objectives.
• Evaluate regional, climate, store volume, and customer segmentation opportunities.
• Guide presentation strategies that maximize productivity across varied store footprints and formats.
• Partner with Marketing to develop clear and compelling product stories and seasonal campaigns.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead alignment across Design, Product Development, Planning, Sourcing, Marketing, Visual Merchandising, and Retail Operations.
• Drive clarity around priorities and business objectives.
• Facilitate productive and decisive milestone meetings throughout the product development cycle.
• Resolve competing priorities while maintaining focus on the highest return opportunities.
• Provide strategic recommendations and influence executive-level decision making.
• Serve as a customer advocate within all assortment and investment discussions.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop merchandising managers and individual contributors.
• Build organizational capabilities and succession pipelines.
• Establish performance expectations and accountability measures.
• Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Recruit and retain high-performing merchandising talent.

Additional Job Responsibilities:

• Participate in annual strategic planning processes.
• Present category performance and recommendations to executive leadership.
• Support organizational and process improvement initiatives.
• Champion data-driven decision making throughout the merchandising organization.
• Lead special projects and growth initiatives as assigned.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Other duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

What we are looking for

Skills & Requirements:

• 10+ years of progressive merchandising experience within specialty retail, lifestyle, apparel, or omnichannel retail environments.
• Deep expertise in merchandise planning and assortment architecture. 
• Strong understanding of product strategy and category management principles. 
• Advanced retail math and financial acumen. 
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills. 
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and merchandising analytics tools.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Demonstrates clear product vision and commercial strategy.
• Possesses strong understanding of customer needs and expectations.
• Balances customer insights, merchant intuition, and financial discipline.
• Leads through influence across cross-functional teams.
• Makes decisions confidently despite ambiguity.
• Communicates priorities clearly and consistently.
• Creates alignment and accountability across multiple stakeholders.
• Challenges assumptions respectfully and constructively.
• Adapts quickly when business performance deviates from plan.
• Maintains a results-oriented and growth-focused mindset.
• Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Business Administration, Retail Management, Marketing, Economics, Finance, Fashion Merchandising, or a related field preferred. Relevant retail merchandising experience and demonstrated business impact may be considered in lieu of specific educational requirements.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk, standing, bending and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds occasionally.
• Must be able to access and navigate various department at the organization's facilities.

Benefits at a Glance

At J.McLaughlin, we design our benefits with the same care and intention as our product. Our benefits are designed to support well-being, flexibility, and long-term growth.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match (eligibility based on hours worked)
• Generous paid time off and paid holidays
• Hybrid or flexible work environment (role-dependent)
• Company-paid life insurance and disability coverage
• Optional Critical Illness and Accident insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Clothing allowance and generous discounts on J.McLaughlin merchandise
• Discretionary bonus opportunities (role-dependent)
• Employee referral incentives and commuter benefits

Pay Transparency & Disclaimer

$120,000 - $140,000, depending on experience, skills, and qualifications.
Compensation and benefits may vary based on role, location, and eligibility. J.McLaughlin reserves the right to modify compensation and benefit programs at any time, in accordance with applicable laws.

Equal Opportunity

J.McLaughlin is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.