Senior Director of Merchandising and Buying

• Own and execute the merchandising and buying strategy for the EMEA marketplace across Owned Retail, Wholesale, and Franchise.
• Translate global brand and product strategies into an EMEA commercial strategy reflecting regional customer needs and market dynamics.
• Establish seasonal and annual commercial objectives with EMEA leadership.
• Identify marketplace opportunities, product gaps, consumer trends, and commercial risks to maximize revenue, margin, and long-term growth.
• Own seasonal buying and assortment decisions across EMEA.
• Build localized assortments and determine category mix, breadth, depth, size curves, and inventory investment by market and channel.
• Partner with Planning on seasonal buys, forecasting, replenishment, inventory transfers, and inventory strategies.
• Monitor in-season performance and recommend assortment, inventory, replenishment, allocation, markdown, promotional, and exit actions.
• Develop differentiated merchandising strategies across Owned Retail, Wholesale, and Franchise.
• Lead merchandising and buying strategy for expansion into new EMEA markets, including localized launch assortments, inventory, pricing, and launch plans.
• Represent EMEA customer and marketplace needs in global merchandising and product conversations.
• Provide regional insights influencing product development, assortment architecture, size strategies, and launch priorities.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing EMEA merchandising and buying organization.
• Establish accountability, decision-making frameworks, scalable processes, tools, and operating rhythms.
• Coach and mentor the team, develop succession, and champion operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Report to Dawn Vitale.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Fashion, Retail Management, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in Merchandising, Buying, or Commercial leadership within premium fashion or lifestyle brands.
• Significant experience operating across multiple international markets, preferably within EMEA.
• Proven experience supporting Retail, Wholesale, and Franchise business models.
• Strong understanding of regional consumer behavior, assortment localization, and international merchandising strategies.
• Demonstrated success driving commercial growth across omnichannel environments.
• Advanced analytical skills with expertise in assortment planning, inventory management, forecasting, and financial analysis.
• Experience working closely with global headquarters while representing regional business needs.
• Strong executive presence with exceptional communication and influencing skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and merchandising/planning systems such as Anaplan, SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar platforms.
• Deep understanding of the EMEA retail landscape and evolving consumer trends.
• Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders across multiple regions and time zones.
• Entrepreneurial, adaptable, and energized by a high-growth, fast-paced environment.
• Customer-obsessed and passionate about delivering exceptional product experiences.
• Hands-on leadership across strategic and operational work.

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in developing and executing merchandising and buying strategies tailored to the EMEA marketplace, with a strong focus on assortment planning, inventory management, and commercial growth across multiple channels. Proven ability to lead high-performing teams while influencing cross-functional stakeholders and adapting to evolving consumer trends.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Merchandising Strategy Development
• Assortment Planning
• Inventory Management
• Commercial Leadership
• Cross-Functional Collaboration

Hard Skills

• Assortment Planning
• Inventory Management
• Financial Analysis
• Forecasting
• Commercial Growth
• Market Analysis
• Consumer Behavior Understanding
• Buying Strategy
• Localization Strategy
• Omnichannel Strategy

Soft Skills

• Exceptional Communication
• Influencing Skills
• Coaching and Mentoring
• Adaptability
• Entrepreneurial Mindset

Industry Keywords

• EMEA Marketplace
• Retail
• Wholesale
• Franchise
• Premium Fashion
• Lifestyle Brands
• Consumer Trends
• Operational Excellence
• High-Growth Environment
• Strategic Leadership

Tools & Technologies

• Excel
• Anaplan
• SAP
• Oracle
• NetSuite

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