Chief Merchant - Global / North America (Luxury Fashion)

Chief Merchant – Global / North America (Luxury Fashion)Executive Leadership | New York, NYA globally recognized fashion house is seeking a visionary Chief Merchant to lead its merchandising organization into its next era of creative and commercial growth. This role requires a leader who blends strategic clarity with cultural fluency, sharp product instinct, and a modern understanding of how today's consumer engages with brands. The ideal candidate is a progressive merchant — someone who can translate design into business, build assortments that feel fresh and relevant, and architect a product strategy that drives both brand desire and financial performance.The OpportunityThe Chief Merchant is responsible for shaping seasonal collections, driving global merchandising strategy, and scaling the brand's commercial footprint. This leader owns the full product lifecycle — from concept through market placement — ensuring every collection is both creatively resonant and commercially successful. Historically, this role has been the strategic engine behind one of the brand's most profitable eras, establishing a foundation for continued growth, sharper product identity, and elevated global relevance. The incoming leader will build on that momentum while modernizing how the brand approaches product, consumer behavior, and global assortment architecture.What You'll LeadProduct Strategy & VisionBuild and own the global merchandising strategy across all categories (RTW, handbags, SLG, footwear, accessories).Partner closely with Design to ensure collections reflect brand DNA while evolving toward modern consumer expectations.Develop a long-term product architecture that balances innovation, commercial productivity, and brand storytelling.Identify whitespace opportunities, category expansion, and new product concepts that strengthen brand relevance.Assortment & Buying LeadershipLead seasonal line planning, assortment curation, and global buy strategies across full-price, outlet, and digital channels.Ensure assortments are differentiated, culturally resonant, and optimized for regional needs.Drive SKU efficiency, margin improvement, and inventory productivity through disciplined merchandising frameworks.Champion a data-informed approach to buying while preserving creative intuition.Cross-Functional PartnershipWork hand-in-hand with Design, Planning, Production, Marketing, Retail, and eCommerce to deliver cohesive brand moments.Partner with Retail and DTC teams to ensure product strategies align with client behavior and omnichannel insights.Collaborate with Marketing to build product stories that feel editorial, modern, and emotionally compelling.Team Leadership & CultureLead and develop a high-performing merchandising team with a culture rooted in curiosity, accountability, and creativity.Modernize merchandising processes, tools, and ways of working to reflect today's fast-moving consumer landscape.Foster an environment where diverse perspectives shape product decisions and innovation.Financial & Commercial OwnershipOwn category performance, margin targets, and product lifecycle management.Drive pricing strategy, promotional frameworks, and markdown optimization.Ensure product decisions support both brand elevation and commercial health.Who You Are15+ years of progressive merchandising leadership within luxury, designer, or high-growth contemporary fashion.A modern merchant with strong product instinct and the ability to balance creativity with commercial rigor.Experience partnering with design-led organizations and navigating the tension between art and commerce.Fluent in global merchandising, assortment architecture, and omnichannel retail dynamics.A strategic thinker who can also operate hands-on and collaboratively.Comfortable leading transformation, challenging legacy processes, and driving modernization.A culture-builder who leads with clarity, empathy, and high expectations.Known for shaping product strategies that feel fresh, relevant, and commercially successful.Why This Role MattersThe brand is entering a new era — one defined by sharper product identity, elevated storytelling, and stronger commercial foundations. The Chief Merchant will be a key architect of that evolution, shaping how the brand shows up through product across global markets.CompensationCompetitive executive compensation package including base salary, bonus, and long-term incentives aligned with experience and impact.