Director, Merchandising

AMB Group, LLC•Atlanta, GA

10d

About The Position

The Director of Merchandise is the senior leader responsible for end-to-end ownership of merchandise buying, pricing, assortment planning, and inventory strategy across the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, the new NWSL club, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Acting as the primary decision-maker for product investment and margin performance, this role carries direct accountability for revenue, gross margin, sell-through, inventory turns, and inventory risk. The Director partners closely with the VP, Retail as a thought leader and execution driver, shaping both near-term performance and long-term retail strategy. This role is designed for a builder. The Director of Merchandising will lead the stand-up of AMB Sports & Entertainment’s in-house buying, pricing, and inventory capability as the organization transitions control from a third-party partner.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, Supply Chain, Marketing, or related field
10+ years in buying, merchandise planning and retail operations experience (sports, fashion, or consumer goods preferred)
Proven track record of managing seasonal buying cycles and vendor negotiations
Must be able to work select nights and weekend Atlanta Falcons games, Atlanta United matches, store product launches and 3rd party Mercedes-Benz stadium events as needed
Strong organizational and computer skills required
Flexible and a team player
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint & Word)
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Ability to multi-task, problem solve effectively and handle stressful and difficult situations
Ability to lift 25 lbs on and occasional basis
Flexibility to work extended hours, weekends, nights as dictated by the business
Must be assertive and eager to grow in an extremely fast paced organization
Deep analytical skills, including sales reporting, forecasting, and inventory management
Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, budget reconciliation)
Proficiency in retail systems (e.g., ERP, POS, Excel, Mondays.com, analytics platforms)
Strong product sense with the ability to identify trends and anticipate fan demand
Clear communication skills with ability to present findings to executives
Strong cross-functional collaboration with Marketing, Creative, Warehouse, and Retail Ops

Nice To Haves

Experience working with licensed product programs and sports retail operations (e.g., NFL, MLS, NBA, NCAA) is a plus

Responsibilities

Oversee product selection, buying and inventory to ensure a balanced, profitable and appealing product mix
Analyze market trends and consumer behavior to refine and elevate each team’s product assortment
Develop seasonal merchandise assortments aligned with brand strategy, fan insights, and sales goals
Ability to create and manage Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets, ensuring optimal inventory levels and alignment with sales targets while driving overall volume
Use sales data, market research, and KPIs to drive informed decisions and optimize performance
Partner with senior leadership to establish long-range financial plans, seasonal strategies and retail sales goals with an emphasis on unit sales across teams
Create and implement merchandising strategy across all locations, including regular site visits, merchandising plans and floor set plans
Collaborate with the operations team to enhance visual merchandising and optimize the fan journey across each store
Build annual timelines and calendars for custom collections with ability to map out 2 years in advance
Forecast demand and manage replenishment to support sales peaks and seasonality
Ensure financial goals are met: revenue, sell-through, turn, GM% and markdown strategy
Conduct market, trend, and competitor analysis to inform product selection and pricing strategies
Drive alignment between merchandise plans and buying strategies with an emphasis on seasonality, customer journey and
Present recommendations to leadership for product, pricing, and assortment improvements
Build seasonal production schedules and recurring inventory planning
Lead cross-functional meetings to align creative, marketing, retail, and operations
Source merchandise across multiple licensees to expand seasonal and evergreen assortments
Oversee stadium giveaway programs and major sponsorship merchandising
Lead product launch meetings and monthly retail reporting, including preparation of launch documents for both the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United.
Track product timelines and shipping status; adjust PO start/cancel dates as needed
Develop launch plans including unit distribution, timelines, and campaign strategy for distribution to Fanatics
Lead execution of league retail initiatives in alignment with NFL & MLS guidelines
Regularly train store teams on product features, campaign priorities, and visual standards
Maintain strong communication and relationships with league partners, vendors, and licensees
Partner with Marketing, Creative, and Retail Operations to plan product launch moments
Manage sales performance reporting within the team across launch milestones
Oversee purchase order creation and receipt with Fanatics and licensees
Analyze sales by location and product category to identify top performers
Create comprehensive recaps covering marketing, social, digital and sales performance
Time-management and organization skills to handle multiple launches and timelines simultaneously
Oversee in-store merchandising refreshes and signage rollout.
Track key e-commerce KPIs through retail and affiliate links
Work with data analytics team on ad hoc retail reporting as needed
Grow vendor partnerships supporting corporate retail programs
Lead team that manages in-store signage and maintain up-to-date promotional merchandising
Manage workflows, timelines, and priorities using Monday.com boards
Coordinate order deliveries, freight tracking, and sample management for both clubs
Improve delivery accuracy through enhanced communication workflows with stadium operations
Project manage 3rd party events including event logistics and event operations
Manage Falcons and Atlanta United retail initiative calendars for venue and eComm
Align club retail launches with NFL & MLS Store platform rollout
Lead MLS Licensee Portal management and seasonal submissions
Participate in NFL & MLS Consumer Products Summit and league retail forums
Manage large-scale departmental orders throughout the Blank Family of Businesses
Identify new product and licensing opportunities and align with Fanatics