Manager, Direct Merch - Converse

WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH

This role will sit within Converse Global Marketplace Merchandising and partner closely with Merchandising, Planning, Allocation, Marketing, Retail and Digital teams to deliver consumer-right assortments across stores and digital platforms. This role reports into Director of Global Direct Merchandising and manages a team of merchants.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for a consumer-obsessed merchant with strong retail acumen, omni-channel experience and the ability to translate product strategy into profitable assortments for Western Europe Direct. This person is both analytical and product-led, comfortable using sell-through, traffic, conversion, AOV, margin, inventory and consumer insights to make clear recommendations. They bring strong cross-functional influence, collaboration and communication skills, with the confidence to manage competing priorities across seasonal planning and in-season trading. The ideal candidate understands how to build assortments that serve the consumer, elevate the brand and deliver business results across physical retail and digital channels.

• Well-rounded experience in merchandising, buying, planning, retail or e-commerce experience, preferably within footwear, apparel or lifestyle consumer products.
• Proven experience building assortments, managing seasonal buys and using performance data to inform future product and pricing decisions.
• Strong analytical skills and retail math fluency, including sales, margin, sell-through, inventory productivity and forecast inputs.
• Ability to influence across functions, present recommendations clearly and operate with agility in a fast-paced marketplace environment.
• Ability to travel up to 25%, including seasonal milestone meetings, marketplace visits and cross-functional business reviews as needed.

• Build and manage seasonal Direct assortments for Western Europe across stores and digital, balancing brand priorities, consumer demand, commercial opportunities and inventory health.
• Partner with Planning and Allocation to inform buy quantities, demand forecasts, depth, channel flow and replenishment recommendations.
• Analyze weekly business performance across key metrics such as revenue, margin, traffic, conversion, AOV, sell-through, weeks of supply and inventory productivity to identify risks and opportunities.
• Use consumer, marketplace, trend and competitive insights to shape seasonal product priorities, pricing recommendations and future assortment decisions.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Retail, Digital partners to connect product stories, launch plans and commercial moments across Direct touchpoints.
• Prepare clear recaps, hindsight analysis and forward-looking recommendations for seasonal reviews, leadership meetings and cross-functional business conversations.
• Manage a team of merchants by building merchandising capability, accountability and a consumer-first mindset.