Director, Merchandising

Article•Vancouver, BC

9d•CA$200,000 - CA$240,000•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Director, Merchandising, you'll be responsible for both the business performance of assigned categories as well as the operational excellence of the Category Management function. Specifically, overseeing our Indoor Furniture Categories: Upholstery, Dining, Bedroom, Office & Entryway. Internally, your title will be Director, Category Management (CMT). The Category Management team curates and manages Article’s product assortment, making it easier for customers to furnish their homes with confidence. Meaning, you will be at the forefront and fully own the sales and performance of your assigned categories. As Director, you’ll lead the Upholstery, Dining, Bedroom, Office & Entryway categories, owning their sales, margin, and growth performance. You’ll also guide the operational health of the Category Management (CMT) function, ensuring our team runs strategically and efficiently. You won’t need prior furniture experience to succeed in this role. But, you will need the ability to drive results through strong cross-functional partnerships, especially with Product Design, Supply Chain, Marketing, Creative, and Finance; build and evolve a resilient, empowered team that’s excited to solve meaningful problems; and shape how Category Management shows up at Article — championing both customer impact and operational excellence.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in category management, merchandising, or product leadership within retail or eCommerce.
4+ years leading and developing high-performing teams in Category Management or Merchandising.
Proven ability to influence business outcomes through strategy, collaboration, and stakeholder management.
Experience leading in high-growth, fast-paced environments.
Strong analytical and critical thinking skills — able to dive into data and turn insights into action.
Comfortable making pricing and promotional decisions that drive both revenue and profitability.
Proficiency with business analysis tools and data platforms (e.g., Excel, BI tools, or equivalent).
Familiarity with product lifecycle and assortment planning systems (you don’t need furniture experience — just a strong foundation in retail operations).
A customer-first mindset and strategic thinking approach.
Excellent communication and leadership skills.
A collaborative, “above the line” approach to working across functions.
Adaptable and resilient in managing competing priorities and changing environments.
Legally able to work in Canada.
Completion of a criminal background check.

Nice To Haves

No prior furniture experience is required.

Responsibilities

Leading a team of 3 Category Managers, 2 Junior Category Managers, and 3 Category Specialists.
Create and manage category management best practices that enable the function to operate effectively and reliably.
Develop, in partnership with the VP, long-term growth strategies for product categories.
Lead and mentor Senior Category Managers, Category Managers, and other team members to meet functional goals.
Co-lead strategic contract negotiations, feedback, and accountability with cross-functional partners to ensure the team is equipped with the critical inputs and infrastructure required to perform at a high level.
Ensure the development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of strategies that can include identifying, documenting, and prioritizing investment proposals for business growth that will help grow your category’s share of the market.
Lead category management efforts across cross-functional workflows to ensure business success.
Act as a champion of the customer internally, negotiating performance commitments on behalf of our customer with function owners across the business.
Be accountable for the performance (revenue and profitability) of an assigned Article product categories.
Steer pricing and promotional pricing strategy for your scope of business, ensuring we meet revenue and margin targets.
Analyze business performance with the ability to dive deep into the details and present high-level insights that translate into actions.
Empower direct reports with decision-making autonomy while maintaining accountability for results.
Conduct regular performance reviews, providing constructive feedback and coaching to drive individual and team development.
Foster collaboration and effective communication across cross-functional teams.
Develop succession planning by identifying and developing high-potential talent within the category management team.
Oversee the execution of product lifecycle management activities, ensuring teams deliver on time and meet strategic objectives.

Benefits

$200,000 to $240,000 salary range
4% RRSP matched contributions through Wealthsimple
20 days of vacation
6 well-being (sick) days
1 extra day of PTO (Inclusion and Diversity Day)
Hybrid work: 3 days a week in the office
Work remotely (anywhere in the world) for up to 3 weeks
Excellent extended health and dental benefits packages
$1000 health/lifestyle spending account for your total physical and mental well-being
TELUS Health App
Mental Health Assistance/Counselling
Virtual medical appointments
45% discount on our entire product range (15% for friends and family)
Prorated