Merchandising Manager, Fashion Key Accounts

New Balance•Boston, MA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Fashion Key Account Merchandising Manager is responsible for driving the merchandising vision, strategy, and execution across the North America Region with our critical fashion led partners. Serving as the bridge between regional strategy and commercial execution, this resource ensures brand strategy is executed with excellence while integrating North American marketplace nuances to maximize impact. The role balances the art and science of merchandising, bringing company goals to life through a brand led, consumer first mindset that drives franchise health and influences both brand and commercial functions across all merchandising deliverables. Reporting to the Sr Merch Manager of Fashion and Street, this resource will develop and implement seasonal directed assortments, within the womens category, consistent with key brand initiatives and financial expectations. Drive the Go-To-Market process and execution, in cooperation with the Regional Category Merchants, North America Sales and brand/Integrated/Business Unit Marketing and manage channel merchandising responsibilities. Specific account ownership will include but not be limited to Journeys, Anthropolgie, Urban outfitters, Asos, and J. Crew.

Requirements

6+ years related product management or merchandising experience with 7+ years professional experience
Bachelor degree or equivalent Retail/industry experience in footwear
System savvy (PLM, ERP, Merchandising)
Proficient in Excel and PowerPoint
Strong planning and organization skills
Deep knowledge of the fashion industry
Analytical/problem analysis skills

Responsibilities

Regionalize Brand Strategy: Translate global brand direction into regionally relevant merchandising strategy and assortment plans by integrating North American consumer insights and marketplace trends to maximize strategic impact for female led accounts
Brand Goals & Commercial Alignment: Serve as the Region’s voice of the female rising and established independent consumer, influencing global brand strategy while ensuring regional merchandising plans align with commercial goals across wholesale partners throughout the GTM process.
Long-Range Franchise Planning: Support the development of 3‑yearchannel plans aligned to brand strategy, providing visibility into seasonal direction, segmentation, and market share projections tied to long term objectives.
Go-To-Market Execution: Create and present seasonal women’s strategy for the channel, including distribution and segmentation guidelines, price architecture, margin implications and influence both brand, sales, planning, marketing, and operations counterparts as per defined GTM process.
Franchise & Lifecycle Management: Oversee seasonal line planning, assortment architecture, franchise performance, and SKU productivity for the fashion channel
Directed Assortments: Manage creation and refinement of Directed Assortments & segmentation strategies across key accounts.
Brand Led Sell‑In & Sell‑Through Optimization: Partner cross functionally on-strategy execution of seasonal plans, assess depth to meet commercial goals, and influence sell‑in quantities to maintain marketplace and inventory health. Adopt and adapt the regional product assortments that meet and exceed KPI’s, by thinking with the end consumer in mind.
Demand & Supply Integration: Align demand and supply by managing merchandising led forecast milestones, support marketplace management, and ensure directed assortments land with precision that reinforce seasonal strategy.
Risk Identification & Mitigation: Surface in‑season risks early, identify structural gaps, and drive decisive, brand aligned actions with cross functional global & regional partners to protect near term performance and long-term strategy.
Hindsight, Insight, Foresight: Lead monthly and seasonal fashion channel reviews, distill consumer and marketplace insights, and translate findings into strategic guidance that informs in season decisions and strong category growth.
Team-First Leadership: Foster an authentic, team-first mindset that prioritizes collaboration, inclusivity, and shared success across stakeholders.
New Balance Culture Alignment: Serve as a champion of New Balance culture, ensuring everyday operations reflect a dedication to performance, continuous learning, integrity, and community.
Accountability & KPIs: Manage progress towards respective directed assortment KPIs and shared KPIs with commercial teams relative to Fashion business, establishing high standards for results.