Director Merchandising

Job description

POSITION OVERVIEW The Director of Merchandising is the architect of the Brand's customer offer and commercial product strategy. This role defines how each collection becomes an irresistible, relevant, and profitable assortment for the customer—delivering the right product, in the right place, at the right price, and at the right time. As a strategic partner to Design, Planning, Product Development, Sourcing, Marketing, and Supply Chain, the Director of Merchandising ensures merchandising is more than a buying function—it is a customer-centric driver of growth. This leader shapes the commercial product strategy, manages assortment and inventory risk, improves inventory productivity, and enables sustainable business performance while delivering an exceptional customer experience. The Director of Merchandising builds and leads a high-performing merchandising organization that combines customer obsession, commercial rigor, analytical thinking, agility, and cross-functional influence to achieve the brand's financial and strategic objectives. RESPONSIBILITIES Create the Best Customer Offer Own and direct the assortment strategy that translates the brand vision and customer needs into a compelling, differentiated, and profitable product offering. Lead the overall assortment strategy by defining the merchandising framework, including assortment architecture, key items, pricing strategy, category roles, volume strategy, and product lifecycle management. Partner closely with Design to translate seasonal collections into a cohesive, customer-focused assortment with clear wardrobe solutions, strong fashion authority, and identifiable growth opportunities. Own the final buy by optimizing assortment breadth, depth, pricing architecture, quantities, and category balance to maximize customer appeal and financial performance. Leverage customer insights, historical performance, trend analysis, and scenario planning to build bottom-up sales plans, commercial strategies, and assortment recommendations. Continuously refine assortments by incorporating market intelligence, competitive analysis, customer feedback, lifecycle performance, and channel insights to ensure relevance and differentiation. Drive Profitable and Sustainable Business Growth Lead the commercial engine of the business by maximizing sales, margin, inventory productivity, and long-term brand health. Develop and execute merchandising strategies that drive revenue growth, improve gross margin, and strengthen the brand's competitive position. Monitor key performance indicators including sales, sell-through, margin, inventory productivity, pricing, and promotional effectiveness to proactively identify risks and opportunities. Partner with Planning and Allocation to optimize buys, initial allocations, replenishment strategies, inventory flow, and stock freshness based on customer demand and business performance. Manage Open-to-Buy, inventory exposure, markdown strategies, and lifecycle planning to balance commercial opportunities while minimizing risk and improving long-term profitability. Champion data-driven decision-making and continuously identify opportunities to improve assortment productivity and customer satisfaction. Lead the Merchandising Organization Build the team, culture, and cross-functional partnerships required for Merchandising to be a strategic commercial leader within the organization. Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing merchandising team by establishing clear priorities, building capabilities, and fostering accountability and ownership. Create a high-performance culture centered on customer obsession, commercial excellence, collaboration, agility, and continuous improvement. Serve as the commercial bridge across Design, Planning, Product Development, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, and Executive Leadership to align business priorities and deliver an integrated customer offer. Attract, retain, and develop top talent while building organizational capability and succession plans. Represent Merchandising as a strategic voice within the leadership team, influencing key business decisions and driving organizational alignment. QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES Bachelor's degree in Merchandising Management, Commerce (Marketing), Business Administration, or a related field of study. 10+ years of progressive experience in merchandising, retail buying, or category management, preferably in a leadership role. 3+ years of proven people leadership experience, with a demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and lead high-performing teams. 3+ years of experience in Product Development within a retail or fashion environment. Strong financial acumen with exceptional analytical, strategic thinking, and decision-making skills. Proven ability to translate customer insights, market trends, and business analytics into commercial strategies that drive profitable growth. Excellent cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and align diverse teams toward shared business objectives. Strong customer-first mindset combined with a passion for fashion, product, and the retail industry. Excellent sense of style and deep understanding of fashion trends, consumer behavior, and the competitive retail landscape. Outstanding communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills. Bilingual in English and French (spoken and written) to effectively collaborate with internal teams, vendors, and business partners across Canada and internationally. Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while successfully managing multiple priorities and leading through change. What Sets Us Apart: Ultimate Flexibility* : Enjoy a hybrid work environment that ensures the perfect balance between work and personal life. Well-Being First : Access a comprehensive benefits program designed to take care of you. Flexible Time Off* : Paid leave, sick days, and vacation time to recharge and spend quality time with loved ones. Exclusive Discounts* : Enjoy 50% off regular-priced items from PENN. Penningtons, Reitmans, and RW&CO. Referral Rewards* : Refer your professional network and earn a bonus for helping us grow our talented team Growth opportunities* : Annual bonuses, career advancement, and tuition reimbursement to help you reach your professional goals. *Certain conditions apply Total rewards are aligned with your employment status, offering different perks depending on whether you're full-time, part-time, or under contract. Reitmans (Canada) Limited is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, inclusive, and accessible workplace where everyone belongs. If you are contacted for an employment opportunity, please advise us of any accommodation required throughout the recruitment process. All information provided will be kept confidential and used solely to support an accessible candidate's experience. The use of Artificial Intelligence may be used for candidate screening purposes. We thank all applicants. Only selected candidates will be contacted. #LI-HV1 We’re RCL - Reitmans Canada Limited . We’ve been part of the fabric of Canada’s fashion landscape since 1926, and today, we’re elevating our iconic brands – Reitmans, RW&CO, and PENN. Penningtons – more than ever before. Our vision is to empower Canadians to live confidently, and our mission is to create collections of uncompromising style and quality for all. With close to 400 stores nationwide and collections designed right here at home, in Canada, we offer an exceptional customer experience. What drives us? A clear vision, unwavering commitment to our customers, and the passion of our thousands of employees across the country.