Senior Director, Business Strategy - Merchandising Acceleration

Reference: R-2574744Posted: 2026-07-22Location: BENTONVILLE, AR, United StatesSalary: $130000 - $260000/yearType: Full time / Regular/PermanentCompany: WalmartBusiness Segment: Home OfficePosition Summary...As the Senior Director, Merchandising Acceleration, you’ll lead the Walmart U.S. Entertainment Council and the enterprise activation of cultural moments that matter most to customers. Sitting at the intersection of merchandising, strategy, marketing, digital, and ecosystem growth, this role brings teams together to turn major entertainment franchises, tentpole events, fandom moments, and partner opportunities into coordinated programs that drive customer impact and business results.You’ll also shape broader enterprise strategic initiatives with studios, publishers, and other strategic suppliers, building partnerships and scalable activation models that unlock new revenue, deepen customer engagement, and create value beyond the product. Success requires strong strategic thinking, commercial judgment, executive influence, and the ability to move complex opportunities from vision through execution.This is a highly visible leadership role on the newly formed Merchandising Acceleration team within the Walmart U.S. Entertainment, Toys and Seasonal division. Designed for a builder and intrapreneur, this role will help transform activation initiatives into a scalable growth engine for Walmart.What you'll do...Lead the activation strategy for Walmart's highest-profile merchandising initiatives, bringing together cross-functional teams to execute seamlessly against major cultural and fandom moments.Build and strengthen strategic relationships with world-class partners, including leading entertainment studios, creating programs that generate long-term value for both Walmart and its partners.Develop next-generation merchandising strategies that align teams across merchandising, eCommerce, marketing, operations, W+, Vizio, and other business functions around a shared vision and execution plan.Identify opportunities to simplify and streamline processes, improve organizational alignment, and create repeatable activation models that accelerate speed to market and deliver strategic differentiation.Translate large, complex business opportunities into executable roadmaps with clear priorities, milestones, success metrics, and executive-level communication.Influence senior leaders across multiple organizations, ensuring alignment, accountability, and successful execution.Evaluate emerging customer trends, industry shifts, and competitive opportunities to inform future merchandising and commercial strategies and enterprise partnerships.Lead high-impact, high-visibility initiatives from concept through execution while balancing multiple priorities across a dynamic portfolio.What you’ll bring...Experience leading large-scale merchandising, retail strategy, or business transformation initiatives within a complex enterprise environment.A strong merchandising foundation with an understanding of how products, promotions, customer experiences, and cross-functional execution come together to bring programs to market.Demonstrated success leading highly visible, cross-functional initiatives that require influencing executive stakeholders and diverse business teams.Exceptional strategic thinking paired with the ability to dive into execution details when needed.Proven ability to build trusted partnerships internally and externally, creating alignment across organizations with competing priorities.Strong executive communication skills with the ability to simplify complexity, tell compelling business stories, and drive decisions.Experience managing ambiguity, identifying opportunities where others see obstacles, and creating structure that enables execution.A customer-first mindset and passion for creating innovative retail experiences that connect Walmart with customers in meaningful ways.At Walmart, we offer competitive pay as well as performance-based bonus awards and other great benefits for a happier mind, body, and wallet. Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage. Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company-paid life insurance. Paid time off benefits include PTO (including sick leave), parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting. Other benefits include short-term and long-term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more. You will also receive PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes. The amount you receive depends on your job classification and length of employment. It will meet or exceed the requirements of paid sick leave laws, where applicable. For information about PTO, see . Live Better U is a Walmart-paid education benefit program for full-time and part-time associates in Walmart and Sam's Club facilities. Programs range from high school completion to bachelor's degrees, including English Language Learning and short-form certificates. Tuition, books, and fees are completely paid for by Walmart. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to a specific plan or program terms. For information about benefits and eligibility, see One.Walmart. The annual salary range for this position is $130,000.00 - $260,000.00 Additional compensation includes annual or quarterly performance bonuses. Additional compensation for certain positions may also include : - Stockㅤㅤㅤㅤ‎ Minimum Qualifications...Outlined below are the required minimum qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no minimum qualifications. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Statistics, Social Science, Communications, or related field and 7 years’ experience in retail merchandising, operations management, or related area OR 9 years’ experience in retail merchandising, operations management, or related area. 3 years’ supervisory experience.Preferred Qualifications...Outlined below are the optional preferred qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no preferred qualifications.Working on cross-functional teams or projectsMasters, Masters: Computer Science, Masters: Supply Chain, Masters: TransportationPrimary Location...1700 Se 5th St, Bentonville, AR 72716, United States of AmericaWalmart and its subsidiaries are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of illegal drugs and alcohol on the job. This policy applies to all employees and aims to create a safe and productive work environment.SummaryAs the Senior Director, Merchandising Acceleration, you’ll lead the Walmart U.S. Entertainment Council and the enterprise activation of cultural moments that matter most to customers. Sitting at the intersection of merchandising, strategy, marketing, digital, and ecosystem growth, this role brings teams together to turn major entertainment franchises, tentpole events, fandom moments, and partner opportunities into coordinated programs that drive customer impact and business results. You’ll also shape broader enterprise strategic initiatives with studios, publishers, and other strategic suppliers, building partnerships and scalable activation models that unlock new revenue, deepen customer engagement, and create value beyond the product. Success requires strong strategic thinking, commercial judgment, executive influence, and the ability to move complex opportunities from vision through execution. This is a highly visible leadership role on the newly formed Merchandising Acceleration team within the Walmart U.S. Entertainment, Toys and Seasonal division. Designed for a builder and intrapreneur, this role will help transform activation initiatives into a scalable growth engine for Walmart.Minimum qualifications["Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Statistics, Social Science, Communications, or related field and 7 years’ experience in retail merchandising, operations management, or related area OR 9 years’ experience in retail merchandising, operations management, or related area. 3 years’ supervisory experience."]Preferred qualifications["Working on cross-functional teams or projects"]