Director of Merchandising

Director of Product Merchandising

Competitive benefits including fitness center reimbursement and product discounts. This is a remote position; however, candidates must be located in Minneapolis, MN; Fargo, ND; or Chicago, IL.

Swanson Health Products has been committed to bringing wellness to the world for over 50 years. As a leader in the vitamins, supplements, and natural wellness industry, we focus on delivering science-backed, high-quality products that support healthier lives. We are a digitally driven organization investing in innovation, customer experience, and data-informed growth.

About the Role:

We are seeking a Director of Product Merchandising to define and execute enterprise-wide category, assortment, and innovation strategies across Swanson's product portfolio. This role is responsible for driving category growth, profitability, innovation performance, and portfolio optimization across Direct-to-Consumer, Amazon & 3P Marketplaces, and International channels.

As a key leader within the organization, you will oversee category strategy, assortment planning, innovation roadmaps, and portfolio performance while leading and developing a team of merchandising professionals. You'll collaborate cross-functionally with Innovation, Marketing, Pricing, Analytics, Purchasing, Ecommerce, Marketplace, and International teams to deliver business growth and strengthen Swanson's market position.

What You'll Do:

Category & Portfolio Strategy:

• Own category vision, strategy, and performance across multiple channels
• Lead assortment architecture, governance, and SKU rationalization initiatives
• Monitor category performance and implement improvement plans
• Identify growth opportunities, portfolio gaps, and emerging market trends
• Leverage consumer, competitive, industry, and internal insights to inform strategic decisions

Innovation Leadership:

• Own innovation roadmaps and product pipelines for both owned and partner brands
• Oversee product launches, reformulations, and discontinuations
• Partner cross-functionally to commercialize innovation initiatives
• Evaluate launch performance and optimize future innovation investments

Leadership & Talent Development:

• Lead, coach, and develop Associate and Assistant Merchants
• Establish clear priorities, accountability, and performance expectations
• Build organizational capability and succession plans
• Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, continuous improvement, and results

Cross-Functional Leadership:

• Represent Merchandising across enterprise initiatives and strategic projects
• Influence decisions across Innovation, Marketing, Pricing, Analytics, Purchasing, Ecommerce, Marketplace, and International teams
• Align stakeholders around category priorities and business objectives

Business Performance & Growth:

• Drive category growth, profitability, and portfolio optimization
• Manage innovation performance and product lifecycle strategies
• Utilize analytics and financial insights to guide business decisions
• Support enterprise growth initiatives across all sales channels

Required Qualifications:

• 10+ years of progressive merchandising or category management experience
• Demonstrated success managing category performance, innovation pipelines, and cross-functional business initiatives
• Strong analytical, financial, and strategic planning capabilities
• Experience owning financial performance and driving business results
• Proven experience managing product lifecycles and innovation portfolios
• Executive presence with the ability to influence senior leaders and stakeholders
• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills
• Strong leadership, coaching, and talent development abilities
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and lead through organizational change
• Bias toward action, accountability, and results
• Experience working across multiple sales channels, including DTC, marketplaces, and international markets a plus
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Management, or a related field

Why Join Us?

Join a company with over 50 years of leadership in health and wellness and play a key role in shaping the future of our product portfolio. As Director of Product Merchandising, you'll drive category growth, lead innovation, influence enterprise-wide strategy, and make a meaningful impact on the health and wellness journey of millions of customers.