Senior Manager, Merchandising Strategy & Operations

Babylist

2h•Remote

About The Position

We're looking for a Senior Manager, Merchandising Strategy and Operations to drive the operational excellence behind our merchandising organization during a pivotal moment, one where our business is scaling rapidly, our merchandising function is maturing, and operational efficiency has never been more critical to our success. This is a high-impact role designing systems, unlocking bandwidth, and building the infrastructure that enables our Merchandising team to operate at peak performance. This is more than a "keep the lights on" role, it's an opportunity to define what operational excellence looks like at Babylist, building the foundation for sustainable growth. Reporting to the VP of Merchandising, you'll partner closely with Merchants, Planning, Data, Finance, Accounting, Legal, Owned Brands, Operations and Tech to translate strategy into transparent, scalable, repeatable execution. You'll bridge teams, drive accountability, and ensure everyone is rowing in the same direction. You bring both big picture thinking and a willingness to roll up your sleeves–you're energized by both the vision and the details. Success requires influencing without authority, building consensus, and delivering measurable efficiency gains that directly impact revenue and margin.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in retail operations, sales operations, or related experience with proven expertise in process design and cross-functional influence
Prior experience building processes, tools, benchmarks, and the right data infrastructure to scale businesses and organizations
Strong analytical and financial modeling skills with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and derive insights from large data sets
Have systems aptitude and proficiency in BI/analytics tools and Excel (pivot tables, vlookups, dashboards, etc.)
Strong project management experience with an ability to evaluate and re-prioritize rapidly and deliver results against aggressive deadlines
Commitment to strengthening operational processes with knowledge, creativity, and empathy
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for a variety of audiences
Self-motivated and able to work autonomously & collaboratively to find direction in ambiguity and complexity, working independently and alongside Finance, Accounting, Planning, Data, Tech, and cross-functional teams
Demonstrated proficiencies as a program manager in a rapidly changing environment
Experience launching and driving adoption for org-wide changes to operational processes
Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Supply Chain, or related field preferred; advanced degree a plus
You're comfortable and enthusiastic about working in an AI-forward environment where AI tools are part of daily operations
You embrace using technology to enhance your work while keeping people at the center

Responsibilities

Define and drive the operational KPIs that underpin revenue and margin performance(including new vendor and product pipelines, pricing competitiveness, operational cost drivers), partnering with Data, Finance, and Merchandising to ensure visibility, accountability, and continuous optimization across the merchandising engine.
Deliver meaningful gains in operating efficiency and team capacity by simplifying how work gets done and establishing clear measures of success. Remove friction across cross-functional workflows to increase throughput and reliability, and drive accountability and operating discipline
Drive strategic vendor success by setting clear processes, milestones, and operating rhythms for Joint Business Planning. Own end-to-end execution—including data synthesis, deck development (in partnership with Brand), project management, and deliverable tracking. Monitor and optimize vendor performance across revenue, co-op, and gross margin targets, and lead Quarterly JBP Reviews to assess progress, surface insights, and course-correct.
Deliver monthly and quarterly readouts to leadership and team with insights, root cause analysis, and recommended actions.
Enable successful strategic planning and execution by owning the milestone calendar across key initiatives (e.g., annual planning, seasonal strategies, product development, and promotions), facilitating meetings, and ensuring clear timelines, shared artifacts, and alignment on requirements and next steps
Serve as the connective tissue between Merchandising Operations, Accounting, and FP&A to ensure merchandising activity translates cleanly into accurate financial performance, reporting, and forecasts.
Document end-to-end processes and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs). Train merchants and cross-functions on tools, policies, and workflows
Lead change management and continuous improvement initiatives, including automation and AI roadmap (e.g., tool enhancements, process automation). Enable teams with dashboards, playbooks, and self-serve capabilities
Support strategic initiatives such as Showroom opening, pilot programs, and new channel launches

Benefits

Competitive pay and meaningful opportunities for career advancement
We believe technology and data can solve hard problems
We're committed to career progression and performance-based advancement
Competitive salary with equity and bonus opportunities
Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
Retirement savings plan with company matching and flexible spending accounts
Generous paid parental leave and PTO
Remote work stipend to set up your office
Perks for physical, mental, and emotional health, parenting, childcare, and financial planning

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