Merchandising Lead

Universal Music•New York, NY

About The Position

We are UMG, the Universal Music Group. We are the world’s leading music company. In everything we do, we are committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship. We own and operate a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. We identify and develop recording artists and songwriters, and we produce, distribute and promote the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music to delight and entertain fans around the world. Famehouse, a division of UMG, is the preeminent leader in D2C solutions in music, defining & delivering the industry’s best-in-class service to connect artists with their fans. Established & headquartered in Philly, Famehouse powers eCommerce for UMG’s labels, artists, and Bravado, along with a select roster of 3rd party clients. Our success & culture is fueled by collaboration—both within FH and with our partners. We are passionate about the impact of eCommerce for artists, providing a full service solution to grow an artist’s owned business including strategy, creative, storefront merchandising, fulfillment, customer service, technology, and more. How we LEAD: Merchandise and commerce are a part of the fabric of music culture. For artists, it’s a way to develop and further articulate their brand. For fans, it’s another pathway to connecting with an artist and the culture they represent. The Merchandising Lead owns the end-to-end merchandising strategy across a portfolio of key artists. You will be responsible for building and executing assortment strategies, pricing architectures, and inventory plans, while also serving as a trusted advisor to artists and their teams—often in high-profile, fast-paced, and high-pressure moments. Success in this role requires comfort operating with both data-driven rigor and relationship-based influence.

Requirements

12+ years of experience in merchandising, buying, or planning, ideally within a large retail or ecommerce organization
Demonstrated expertise in assortment planning, pricing strategy, and inventory forecasting
Strong financial and analytical skills; comfortable working with sales, margin, and inventory metrics
Experience managing external partners, clients, or cross-functional stakeholders
Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, high-pressure, and highly visible situations
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strategic assortment and line planning
Pricing and margin management
Demand forecasting and inventory optimization
Consumer- and data-driven decision making
Stakeholder influence and account management
Calm, persuasive communication under pressure
Strong organizational and prioritization skills

Responsibilities

Build seasonal and ongoing assortment strategies aligned to brand, consumer demand, and financial targets
Develop and manage pricing architectures, including initial pricing, margin targets, and promotional considerations
Oversee demand forecasts, inventory plans, and buy quantities to optimize revenue, margin, and sell-through
Analyze sales performance, conversion, and inventory health; identify risks and opportunities
Apply insights from consumer behavior, trends, and historical data to inform future assortments
Act as the primary merchandising partner for assigned artists and management teams
Translate artist vision into commercially viable merchandise assortments
Present clear, data-backed recommendations and guide artists toward the best paths for success
Balance creative ambition, timelines, operational constraints, and financial outcomes
Partner closely with design, product development, sourcing, marketing, and ecommerce teams
Influence product direction using performance insights, fan data, and market trends
Ensure assortments are right-sized, on-brand, and launch-ready
Support go-to-market and launch strategies tied to tours, releases, drops, and promotional moments
Own key merchandising milestones from concept through launch
Ensure timelines are met across multiple workstreams in a fast-moving environment
Proactively identify risks and resolve issues to keep programs on track
Drive post-launch reviews and apply learnings to future programs

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
Including 100% coverage for out-patient in-network mental health services
Fertility coverage for eligible medical plan participants
Wellbeing reimbursements for fitness classes, spa treatments, meal services, travel, and so much more (up to $720/year)
Student Loan Repayment Assistance and Tuition Reimbursement
401(k) with 100% immediate vesting on the first 5% of your contributions, plus an additional UMG contribution
A variety of ways to prioritize much-needed time away from work including:
Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) for exempt employees
3-weeks PTO for non-exempt employees
2-weeks paid Winter Break
10 Company Holidays (including Juneteenth and Wellbeing Day)
Summer Fridays (between Memorial Day and Labor Day)
Generous paid parental leave for every type of parent