Director, Divisional Merchandising Manager

CSC Generation • Seattle, WA

4d • $140,000 - $150,000

About The Position

With over 59 stores and the largest avocational cooking program in the US, Sur La Table offers an unsurpassed selection of exclusive and premium-quality goods for the kitchen and table – and the culinary expertise and inspiration to go along with it. Whether the job entails interacting with our customers, driving digital growth, or providing vital behind-the-scenes support, we’re all here for the same reason – to roll up our sleeves and create happiness through cooking and sharing good food. The Director, Divisional Merchandising Manager, is a key leader in our merchandising organization, responsible for the strategy, performance, and day-to-day leadership of their division across all channels. This role deepens our bench of merchandising leadership by developing a high-performing team of merchants, driving strategic and analytical decision making, and representing their business in cross-functional initiatives that support Sur La Table’s growth. This position will report into the VP, Merchandising.

Requirements

• 8+ years of proven senior merchandising experience in a multi-location, multi-channel retail environment; at least 3-5 years leading merchants or category managers.
• Experience managing a division or multiple categories with full accountability for sales, margin, and inventory.
• Background in home, kitchen, tabletop, or hard goods strongly preferred; omni-channel experience required.
• Demonstrated track record of:
• Driving revenue growth and profitable category performance.
• Developing and coaching merchandising talent.
• Using data and analytics to inform decisions.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning skills; able to zoom out on long-term direction and zoom in on in-season execution.
• Excellent collaboration skills with a proven ability to influence cross-functional partners at all levels.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience building successful vendor partnerships, including private brand / exclusive programs.
• Curiosity and hands-on experience using modern AI tools to streamline work, analyze large data sets faster, and reimagine how merchandising work gets done – without needing to be a technologist.
• High comfort with Microsoft Office (especially Excel and PowerPoint) and merchandising / planning tools.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with shifting priorities.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed

Responsibilities

• Develop and own the long-range merchandising vision and seasonal strategies for assigned areas, aligned with company goals and customer insights.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of merchants; provide clear goals, coaching, and feedback to build future leaders and bench strength.
• Partner closely with Planning to deliver divisional sales, margin, and inventory goals across stores and e-commerce.
• Use data and analytics to inform strategy, course-correct in season, and identify new growth opportunities.
• Represent assigned departments in cross-functional forums and enterprise projects (omni-channel initiatives, private brand strategy, promotional planning, space and visual strategy, Go To Market (GTM) planning).
• Contribute to strategic planning and manage key elements of the divisional P&L, including sales, markdowns, and vendor funding; identify risks and opportunities proactively.
• Champion the smart use of AI and automation to improve merchant productivity to free the team up to spend more time on strategy, product and the customer.
• Build and execute merchandise strategies across all channels, including:
• Assortment architecture and line planning.
• Private brand vs. national brand mix, exclusivity strategies, and key item focus.
• Seasonal “big ideas” and storytelling that differentiate Sur La Table in the market.
• Partner with Planning on OTB, inventory flow, and markdown strategies to ensure healthy inventory and an on-brand, profitable assortment.
• Lead pricing and promotion strategy for assigned areas; test and refine promotional offers based on performance.
• Maintain a sharp view of the competitive landscape, emerging trends, and customer preferences to continually evolve the product mix.
• Source and maintain relationships with high-quality, cost-effective vendors; negotiate pricing, terms, and exclusives to maximize profitability and supply reliability.
• Leverage data insights to refine promotional, pricing, and inventory strategies.
• Ensure a cohesive omni-channel experience by aligning assortments, pricing, and storytelling across stores, surlatable.com, and culinary programs.
• Partner with Visual Merchandising and Creative to bring seasonal stories to life through in-store presentation, digital merchandising, photography, copy and packaging.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Culinary on campaigns, events, and class tie-ins that showcase key products and drive engagement.
• Collaborate closely with the Product Development / Private Brand team to:
• - Develop and refine seasonal briefs and line plans.
• - Shape private brand strategies within assigned departments.
• - Align timelines, milestones, and go/no-go decisions on new product development.
• Work with Finance, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure operational feasibility, margin targets, and smooth execution of go-to-market plans.
• Lead or contribute to special projects and initiatives as needed.

Benefits

• Executive Access: Work directly with brand CEOs and senior leadership, solving real business problems and earning mentorship from top operators.
• AI-First Skill Building: Get hands-on with the most advanced AI tools in the market. From automation to prompt engineering, you’ll build a modern tech stack that sets you apart in any industry.
• Accelerated Career Path: High performers are quickly entrusted with greater responsibility, new challenges, and leadership opportunities across our portfolio of brands.
• Competitive benefits: Paid time off policies, 401(k)/RRSP match, medical/dental/vision and a variety of supplemental policies, and employee discounts at our portfolio companies.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees