Director, Merchandising Systems

Tapestry•New York, NY

17h

About The Position

The IT Director of Retail Merchandising Systems is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the strategy, implementation, integration, and ongoing optimization of technology platforms that power retail merchandising, product lifecycle management (PLM), product development, and related processes. This position bridges IT and business functions (merchandising, design, sourcing, planning, and operations) and is accountable to drive innovation and operational efficiency.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Information Systems, or a related field; Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
10+ years of progressive IT experience, with at least 5–7 years in retail, fashion/apparel, or consumer goods industries.
Proven track record leading PLM, PIM, merchandising, or product development systems in a retail environment; hands-on experience implementing or managing retail-specific PLM platforms is essential.
Strong understanding of retail product lifecycle processes, including design, technical development, sourcing, merchandising calendars, assortment planning, and go-to-market strategies.
Experience with Digital Product Creation, 3D tools, and other emerging design and PD technology.
Experience managing large-scale IT projects, teams, and budgets in a fast-paced retail setting.
Familiarity with related retail technologies (e.g., ERP like SAP or Oracle, OMS, warehouse management, e-commerce platforms, and analytics tools).
Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills; ability to influence without direct authority and translate technical concepts to non-technical business partners.

Nice To Haves

Experience with cloud-based PLM solutions and modern integration approaches (APIs, middleware).
Knowledge of agile methodologies, change management, and user adoption strategies.
Understanding of retail-specific challenges like seasonal cycles, global sourcing, compliance, and omnichannel merchandising.

Responsibilities

Lead the vision, roadmap, and governance for core merchandising and product development systems, including PLM platforms, Digital Product Creation, and product development.
Partner closely with merchandising, design, product development, sourcing, planning, and buying teams to translate business requirements into technology solutions that support end-to-end product lifecycle—from concept and design through sampling, production, launch, and post-market analysis.
Oversee selection, implementation, configuration, upgrades, and support of PLM and merchandising systems to ensure seamless data flow, version control, collaboration across internal teams and external partners (suppliers, vendors).
Evaluate emerging AI-driven Digital Product Creation technologies and provide thought leadership on adoption and data integration with PLM and PD platforms.
Drive system integrations and data architecture across the retail tech ecosystem to eliminate silos, ensure real-time visibility, and support accurate product data for merchandising decisions and go-to-market execution.
Manage a team of IT professionals, business analysts, project managers, and vendors; provide leadership, mentorship, and cross-functional coordination to deliver projects on time and within budget.
Establish and enforce best practices for system security, data governance, change management, user adoption, training, and support; monitor system performance, uptime, and scalability to meet growing business demands.
Identify opportunities to leverage emerging technologies (e.g., AI, workflow automation, or analytics for product performance) to enhance merchandising and product development processes.
Develop and manage departmental budgets, vendor relationships, and service-level agreements; report on KPIs such as system adoption rates, time-to-market reductions, data accuracy improvements, and ROI from technology investments.
Ensure alignment with overall IT strategy and retail business objectives, including support for omnichannel retail, sustainability initiatives, and rapid response to market trends.