Director, Retail Merchandising

Gordon Brothers

Since 1903, Gordon Brothers has helped companies unlock the potential of their assets. Our solutions-oriented approach combined with over 120 years of industry knowledge enables clients to get the most value from their assets with tailored solutions across asset services, asset lending and financing, and asset trading. Leveraging our deep expertise in retail, industrial, brands and real estate, we work closely with clients globally to determine the value of, lend against, or buy and sell their assets to help them achieve their business goals. At Gordon Brothers, we foster a culture of collaboration and creativity to find unique and innovative solutions for our clients. We take pride in fostering an engaging, inclusive culture and encouraging employees to bring new ideas to the table, develop their skills, and build dynamic and fulfilling careers.

Role Description

This role leads the merchant execution work across retail disposition projects, including store closing sales, inventory monetization, and merchandise assortment strategy. The merchant is responsible for translating due diligence and valuation work into actionable liquidation and sales strategies that maximize recovery value.

This role is based in the Boston office (or similar) and requires significant travel to client sites and stores, often on short notice.

What You Will Do

You will act as the on-the-ground merchandising and inventory execution lead across live retail disposition projects. This includes:

• Leading on-site due diligence at client locations to assess inventory, store conditions, and merchandising opportunities
• Partnering with deal teams to build and review financial and operational models that drive bidding and valuation decisions
• Translating inventory analysis into clear liquidation strategies, including:
• Assortment planning and product mix optimization
• Pricing, discounting, and markdown strategy
• Sales velocity and sell-through assumptions
• Expense and margin impact of execution plans
• Marketing and advertising strategies
• Assessing client businesses, including:
• Industry positioning and competitive dynamics
• Inventory composition, quality, and liquidity
• Operational efficiency and profitability drivers
• Producing clear, structured reports summarizing findings, valuation assumptions, and recommended execution strategies
• Acting as the merchant voice in cross-functional deal discussions, ensuring valuation models reflect real-world retail execution dynamics
• Sourcing and procuring incremental or "augment" inventory to support store closing events by:
• Building and managing vendor relationships
• Negotiating terms and pricing
• Selecting merchandise to improve sales performance and customer traffic
• Coordinating logistics for augmentation inventory, including working with carriers and brokers to reduce freight costs and ensure timely delivery
• Supporting field teams during active sales events, providing real-time merchandising, pricing, advertising, and execution guidance
• Maintaining relationships with external clients, vendors, and internal stakeholders across varying seniority levels
• Identifying and communicating potential deal opportunities or risks across Gordon Brothers' broader platform

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred
• 10+ years of experience in retail merchandising, wholesale, distribution, consulting, or related commercial roles
• Deep understanding of retail operations, inventory dynamics, and consumer behavior
• Strong knowledge of inventory valuation concepts and how merchandise performs in liquidation environments
• Advanced Excel and Microsoft Office skills
• Strong analytical ability paired with practical retail judgment
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to influence senior stakeholders and clients
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects in fast-paced, high-pressure environments
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently, often on short notice

Gordon Brothers offers a very competitive total compensation package, including base salary and bonus plan, health insurance, dental benefits, a generous 401(k) match, time off benefits, and more. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact the Human Resources department if you have a disability and need reasonable accommodation with any part the application process. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Gordon Brothers is an Equal Opportunity Employer.