Senior Manager, Merchandising & Buying

About the Role and Team

As the Senior Manager, Merchandise and Buying team leads the creation and execution of the development of a quarterly product strategy, line architecture, assortment curation and regional product creation for the Disney Store across all distribution points.  Accountability will be centered on North America, encompassing all Softline product categories for Apparel and Accessories.  The Senior Manager will leverage guest and demographic data to evaluate assortments and respond to in-season performance, trends, hindsight analysis and learnings to inform future seasons.  A comprehensive understanding of the connection between financial strategies and merchandise objectives is essential as you will drive the business by partnering and influencing various cross-functional teams.

This role provides leadership to other managers, influences strategy within their functional area and delivers measurable business impact through operational excellence, team leadership and strategic decision-making.

This is a Full-Time role and reports to the Director, Merchandising and Buying.

What You Will Do:

• Drive the creation of quarterly product strategy, line architecture, assortment plans and cross category integration for Apparel and Accessories, ensuring immersive storytelling for the brands best expression
• Lead the team in developing regional product creation strategies and activations with vendors and licensees to drive product differentiation and frequency
• Create the merchandise strategy and assortment curation for Apparel and Accessories to deliver a comprehensive tiered assortment strategy for all channels: e-commerce, brick and mortar locations, and marketplace.
• Assess marketplace trends, competitive activity and demographic insights to inform product strategies
• Partner with Hardline counterpart in the development of seasonal “big bets”
• Collaborate with O & O Merchandising and licensed partners to deliver a fresh co-branded landscape to drive brand excitement
• Deliver product assortment strategies that meet divisional thresholds and best price/value ratios to consumer
• Align divisional merchandising strategies with financial goals that optimize investments and maximize sell-through and productivity
• Foster collaboration with cross functional partners, planning, marketing, and site merchandising to deliver product execution as well unlock opportunity
• Lead and mentor Buying Manager, and other team members fostering high performing, accountable and inclusive culture
• Inspire innovation, creative thinking and operational excellence across the team
• Role-model company values and contribute to ongoing divisional process improvement

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• 10+ years’ experience in merchandising, buying, retail strategy, or product development.
• Demonstrated experience developing strategic assortments across multiple product categories.
• Experience in a matrixed organization with cross-functional leadership responsibilities.
• Experience managing direct reports.
• Strong financial acumen, including margin management, P&L awareness, business forecasting, and investment strategy.
• Ability to identify and activate against consumer and market trends.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and presentation skills.
• Comprehensive understanding of category strategies, assortment architecture, and product development processes.
• Interprets and applies operational and strategic business insights across multiple categories.
• Identifies and resolves complex operational, strategic, and category-specific challenges.
• Influence long-term category direction and cross-functional decision-making.
• Impacts mid-to-long term product, financial, and guest experience outcomes.
• Drives category profitability, operational efficiencies, and strategic growth.
• Influences other managers, senior partners, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Build strong internal and external partnerships with vendors, licensees, and regional teams.
• Ability to travel domestically as required and work fluctuating hours based on business needs.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent relevant experience

Additional Information: 

Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities, and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits. 

The hiring range for this position is Glendale, CA is $126,800.00-$170,000.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.