Merchandising Manager, Fashion Key Accounts

Who We Are:

Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today.

JOB MISSION:

The Fashion Key Account Merchandising Manager is responsible for driving the merchandising vision, strategy, and execution across the North America Region with our critical fashion led partners. Serving as the bridge between regional strategy and commercial execution, this resource ensures brand strategy is executed with excellence while integrating North American marketplace nuances to maximize impact. The role balances the art and science of merchandising, bringing company goals to life through a brand led, consumer first mindset that drives franchise health and influences both brand and commercial functions across all merchandising deliverables.

Reporting to the Sr Merch Manager of Fashion and Street, this resource will develop and implement seasonal directed assortments, within the womens category, consistent with key brand initiatives and financial expectations. Drive the Go-To-Market process and execution, in cooperation with the Regional Category Merchants, North America Sales and brand/Integrated/Business Unit Marketing and manage channel merchandising responsibilities.

Specific account ownership will include but not be limited to Journeys, Anthropolgie, Urban outfitters, Asos, and J. Crew.

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Brand Strategy to Regional Nuance Alignment

• Regionalize Brand Strategy: Translate global brand direction into regionally relevant merchandising strategy and assortment plans by integrating North American consumer insights and marketplace trends to maximize strategic impact for female led accounts
• Brand Goals & Commercial Alignment: Serve as the Region’s voice of the female rising and established independent consumer, influencing global brand strategy while ensuring regional merchandising plans align with commercial goals across wholesale partners throughout the GTM process.
• Long-Range Franchise Planning: Support the development of 3‑yearchannel plans aligned to brand strategy, providing visibility into seasonal direction, segmentation, and market share projections tied to long term objectives.
• Go-To-Market Execution: Create and present seasonal women’s strategy for the channel, including distribution and segmentation guidelines, price architecture, margin implications and influence both brand, sales, planning, marketing, and operations counterparts as per defined GTM process.

Assortment Architecture & Brand Led Influence

• Franchise & Lifecycle Management: Oversee seasonal line planning, assortment architecture, franchise performance, and SKU productivity for the fashion channel
• Directed Assortments: Manage creation and refinement of Directed Assortments & segmentation strategies across key accounts.
• Brand Led Sell‑In & Sell‑Through Optimization: Partner cross functionally on-strategy execution of seasonal plans, assess depth to meet commercial goals, and influence sell‑in quantities to maintain marketplace and inventory health.
• Adopt and adapt the regional product assortments that meet and exceed KPI’s, by thinking with the end consumer in mind.

In‑Season Partnership & Marketplace Insights

• Demand & Supply Integration: Align demand and supply by managing merchandising led forecast milestones, support marketplace management, and ensure directed assortments land with precision that reinforce seasonal strategy.
• Risk Identification & Mitigation: Surface in‑season risks early, identify structural gaps, and drive decisive, brand aligned actions with cross functional global & regional partners to protect near term performance and long-term strategy.
• Hindsight, Insight, Foresight: Lead monthly and seasonal fashion channel reviews, distill consumer and marketplace insights, and translate findings into strategic guidance that informs in season decisions and strong category growth.

Culture, Leadership & Building for the Future

• Team-First Leadership: Foster an authentic, team-first mindset that prioritizes collaboration, inclusivity, and shared success across stakeholders.
• New Balance Culture Alignment: Serve as a champion of New Balance culture, ensuring everyday operations reflect a dedication to performance, continuous learning, integrity, and community.
• Accountability & KPIs: Manage progress towards respective directed assortment KPIs and shared KPIs with commercial teams relative to Fashion business, establishing high standards for results.

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS:

• 6+ years related product management or merchandising experience with 7+ years professional experience
• Bachelor degree or equivalent
• Retail/industry experience in footwear
• System savvy (PLM, ERP, Merchandising)
• Proficient in Excel and PowerPoint
• Strong planning and organization skills
• Deep knowledge of the fashion industry
• Analytical/problem analysis skills

Boston, MA Headquarters - (NB) Only Pay Range: $100,200.00 - $129,300.00 - $158,400.00 Annual (actual base pay varying based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, time in role, internal equity, geographic location, and more.)

Regular Associate Benefits

Our products are only as good as the people we hire, so we make sure to hire the best and treat them accordingly. New Balance offers a comprehensive traditional benefits package including three options for medical insurance as well as dental, vision, life insurance and 401K. We also proudly offer a slate of more nontraditional perks – opportunities like online learning and development courses, tuition reimbursement, $100 monthly student loan support and various mentorship programs – that encourage our associates to grow personally as they develop professionally. You’ll also enjoy a yearly $1,000 lifestyle reimbursement, 4 weeks of vacations, 12 holidays and generous parental leave, because work-life balance is more than just a buzzword – it’s part of our culture.

Temporary associates are provided three options for medical insurance as well as dental and vision insurance and an associate discount.

Part time associates are provided 401k, short term disability, a yearly $300 lifestyle reimbursement and an associate discount.

Flexible Work Schedule

For decades we have fostered a unique culture founded on our values with a particular focus on in-person teamwork and collaboration. Our North American hybrid model encourages rich in-person experiences, showcasing our commitment to teamwork and connection, while maintaining flexibility for associates. New Balance Associates currently work in office three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). Our offices are fully open, and amenities are available across our North American office locations. To continue our focus on hybrid work we have introduced “Work from Anywhere” (WFA) for four weeks per calendar year. This model will help us enhance our culture while continuing to maintain elements of flexibility.

Equal Opportunity Employer

New Balance provides equal opportunities for all current and prospective associates to ensure that employment, training, compensation, transfer, promotion and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment are provided without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, handicap, genetic information and/or status as an Armed Forces service medal veteran, recently separated veteran, qualified disabled veteran or other protected veteran, or any other protected status.

About Us

At New Balance, our job is to aid athletes in their pursuit of excellence, whether that means helping professional athletes set records and win medals, or propelling everyday athletes to achieve a new PR, run their first 5K or just to live a more healthy and active lifestyle.

Our products are the perfect blend of function and fashion, giving you the performance technology you need and the style you want. Our associates around the world bring these goals to life with their high-level skills and creativity. While we offer the best product on the market, we’re also equally committed to giving back. So while we look to succeed, we believe in ensuring others have the same opportunity.