Senior Merchandise Manager - San Diego

YOUR FUTURE BEGINS AT THIS PREMIER DESTINATION At Event Network, we believe the experience matters. As the leading operator of retail experiences at some of the most iconic and inspiring destinations across the United States, we infuse passion, creativity, and purpose into everything we do. Our team is dedicated to providing engaging and memorable retail environments that enhance the guest experience, while reflecting the unique mission and values of each location we serve. The Opportunity Event Network creates retail experiences inside some of the country’s most memorable cultural, educational, and entertainment destinations. As Senior Merchandise Manager, you will translate portfolio product strategy into coordinated execution—connecting partners, Buyers, and cross-functional teams to bring distinctive merchandise experiences to life. This role is ideal for an experienced merchant who combines product judgment and financial acumen with exceptional organization, communication, and relationship-building skills. You will know your partners deeply, confidently present assortments, challenge work that misses the vision, and keep complex priorities moving. Your Leadership Mandate Translate portfolio merchandise strategy into organized, high-quality execution. Serve as a first line of defense for product quality and partner-brand alignment; own the merchandising calendar and partner approval process; connect work across Buyers and cross-functional teams; and ensure assortments and initiatives are ready to move forward. What Success Looks Like • Build trusted partner relationships through strong communication, product knowledge, responsiveness, and follow-through. • Edit and challenge assortments to ensure they are differentiated, cohesive, commercially relevant, and aligned with the vision. • Keep seasonal priorities, approvals, presentations, and initiatives moving through clear timelines and coordination. • Use cost of goods, sales, inventory, product, and partnership performance to strengthen decisions. Core Responsibilities Translate Strategy into Product Execution • Translate portfolio and seasonal strategy into clear product briefs, assortment direction, priorities, and actionable plans. • Own seasonal planning, including the product calendar, key milestones, Buyer deliverables, and cohesive product stories across categories. • Review and edit assortments, approve routine decisions within guardrails, and escalate major concepts and initiatives. Build Strong Partner Relationships • Build trusted relationships and become deeply knowledgeable about each partner’s mission, brand, audience, priorities, and product expectations. • Lead product presentations and partner approvals end to end, including submission, communication, tracking, revisions, follow-up, and closure. Drive Product Quality and Business Performance • Serve as a first line of defense for product quality, assortment cohesion, and partner-brand alignment. • Use product and financial performance to identify opportunities, inform assortment decisions, monitor new-product results, and surface concerns to GMM, Planning, and Buying teams. Coordinate and Lead Across Teams • Hold Buyers accountable to timelines and deliverables while respecting their ownership of sourcing, vendor relationships, product development, and buying execution. • Connect Buyers, Planning, Product Development, Visual Merchandising, Store Quality, Store Directors, Replenishment, E-commerce, Purchasing Operations, and other teams. • Identify risks early, drive resolution, keep the GMM informed, and step in confidently when needed. The Leader Who Will Flourish Here • Highly organized, proactive, self-directed, and known for exceptional follow-through; anticipates needs rather than waiting for direction. • Builds authentic relationships, communicates confidently, and presents with strong product taste, an exceptional eye for detail, and the confidence to challenge work that is not right. • Thinks quickly, remains calm under pressure, connects financial insight to better product decisions, and leads through influence with an enterprise mindset. Skills and Qualifications • 5–7 years of experience in buying, merchandising, product development, retail, or a related field, with experience managing assortments, developing products, leading vendor relationships, analyzing performance, and guiding cross-functional initiatives. Equivalent experience may be considered. • Strong merchandising, product strategy, financial analysis, partner relationship, presentation, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills. • Strong project management skills, including prioritizing work, managing timelines, tracking dependencies, and advancing multiple initiatives. • Proficiency with or similar platforms, plus strong Excel, reporting, data organization, and analysis skills. • Proficiency in Canva and PowerPoint, with a strong eye for layout, storytelling, accuracy, and executive polish. Physical Requirements The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the Senior Merchandise Manager may be required to stand; walk and use hands to handle and or feel. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The Senior Merchandise Managermust occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Salary: 80,000/ yr plus profit sharing bonus BRING YOUR PASSION AND TALENT TO OUR TEAM! Ready to make an impact and be part of something extraordinary? Apply today and take the next step in your career journey with us! Event Network celebrates diversity and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment for all Team Members. Employee Benefits Event Network offers full-time team members a comprehensive total rewards package with a variety of coverage options. • Health and Wellness Benefits: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance; Basic Life and AD&D Insurance; Long-Term Disability; plus Voluntary Benefits options 100% paid by employee: Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance, Short-Term Disability (for employees outside of CA, NY, NJ, HI, RI, Puerto Rico), Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, and Pet insurance. • Retirement and Savings: 401(k) Retirement Plan; Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) • Paid Time Off: Vacation Accrual; Sick Leave • Nine Paid Holidays. • Profit Sharing Bonus Plan • Employee Discounts: 25% discount to shop at our stores; and a separate discount program with exclusive savings on a variety of brand-name products, services, travel, entertainment, tickets, and more.