VP Merch DMM - MLB

Fanatics • New York, NY

97d • $220,000 - $320,000

About The Position

The Divisional Merchandise Manager (DMM) is a business owner and category strategist. This leader is accountable for defining and executing a compelling merchandising strategy that delivers innovation, drives profitable growth, and deepens emotional connection with fans. The DMM owns our Ecommerce end-to-end assortment strategy — across Fanatics-owned vertical brands and external market vendors — and is responsible for merchandise performance across the Ecommerce network. This role reports into the SVP, Merchandising (GMM) and leads a team of merchants, working in close partnership with Planning, Product Development, Marketing, Supply Chain, Operations and Site Experience to bring the Fanatics vision to life — on time, with clarity, and at scale.

Requirements

• Deep senior-level experience in Merchandising, with a proven track record of owning category strategy and performance in complex, omnichannel retail environments.
• Demonstrated leadership of both vertical/private brand and market vendor businesses.
• Strong financial and operational acumen — confident managing OTB, turn, AUR, and margin levers.
• Strategic thinkers with commercial creativity — able to define a compelling category vision and drive it through execution.
• Experienced people leader who builds talent, leads through change, and holds high standards.
• Fan-centric mindset with passion for product, speed, innovation, and culture.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a merchandising strategy that supports Fanatics’ brand and financial goals — spanning Core, Fashion, Seasonal, and Event-Driven (Hot Market) product lifecycles.
• Build a balanced, fan-first assortment that blends product accessibility with exclusivity — grounded in trend insights, data, and emotional fan connection.
• Shape the Fanatics point of view in the category: what we stand for, what we offer, and how we differentiate.
• Own the category’s 'Good, Better, Best' framework and lifecycle plan to ensure clarity across vertical and market brands.
• Partner closely with Product Development to lead vertical brand strategy and influence the design, positioning, and cadence of Fanatics-owned product.
• Serve as the face of Fanatics to key brand partners and vendors — building collaborative relationships that support category growth and exclusivity.
• Lead negotiations to secure favorable terms, exclusive product access, and long-term scale.
• Represent Fanatics’ merchandising vision externally, positioning the brand as a category leader and fan-first innovator.
• Curate the vendor matrix to eliminate redundancy, elevate product storytelling, and optimize productivity.
• Own divisional financial performance — including sales, gross margin, markdowns, turn, and inventory productivity.
• Partner with Planning to build receipt plans, drive OTB strategies, and manage in-season performance.
• Use insights to inform buy depth, exit strategies, pricing actions, and risk mitigation.
• Build clear business cases for growth investments, always balancing creativity with commercial rigor.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-impact team of buyers and category merchants — modeling ownership, curiosity, and customer-centric decision-making.
• Set clear expectations, build strong merchant acumen, and cultivate strategic thinking across the team.
• Foster a culture of bold leadership, collaboration, and accountability — creating space for diverse perspectives and high performance.
• Stay deeply connected to the voice of the fan — leveraging social, trend, and transactional signals to anticipate demand and evolve product direction.
• Actively monitor the competitive landscape and marketplace dynamics to ensure relevance and speed.
• Be the category expert across vertical and market brands — understanding trend, brand equity, product architecture, cost of goods, and vendor capabilities.

Benefits

• Competitive salary range of $220,000 to $320,000, which represents base pay only and does not include short-term or long-term incentive compensation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees