Associate Merchant - Women's Apparel

Open for W2 candidates only. Onsite at 205 W 39th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

About the role

The Associate Merchandiser will support the Global Merchandising team to bring the line to life through key categories, channels, and gender assignments. Responsibilities include line planning, pricing, and product creation to meet or exceed annual financial goals, while partnering with cross-functional teams such as design, supply, development, and retail.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Merchant to support seasonal product vision and assist in building line plans aligned with customer needs, business strategy, and financial targets.
• Develop a strong understanding of the customer through analysis of selling data, market insights, and consumer trends; apply learnings to support assortment decisions.
• Utilize sales performance, projections, bookings, and sell-through data to inform recommendations and support data-driven decision making.
• Assist in maintaining and managing merchandising calendars, ensuring adherence to key deliverables and cross-functional deadlines.
• Support sample management including tracking, proto reviews, and documenting feedback to facilitate timely product updates and changes.
• Create and maintain market tools, assortment guides, and internal presentations to support sales, retail, and cross-functional partners.
• Compile and analyze key merchandising reports (e.g., projections, booking recaps, sales performance, and post-season recaps) to identify risks, opportunities, and trends.
• Conduct ongoing brand, consumer, and competitive research to stay informed on market trends and evolving customer preferences.
• Apply critical thinking to interpret data and trends, connecting insights back to customer behavior and business performance.
• Support process improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, clarity, and ways of working within the merchandising team.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners including Design, Product Development, Supply Chain, Raw Materials, Marketing, and Sales to support cohesive execution.
• Assist in supporting merchandising needs across international markets, gaining exposure to regional nuances and customer differences.
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment, balancing multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and a solution-oriented mindset.

Requirements

• 3-5 years experience in Merchandising, Buying, Planning, or Product Development (internship experience considered).
• Bachelor's Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) merchandising, business, or a related field.
• Detail-oriented with strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and teamwork skills.
• High level of analytical skills and conceptual creative ability.
• Proficient in Microsoft (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• General understanding of retail math.
• Customer-Focused Mindset: Demonstrated interest in understanding the consumer and how product decisions impact customer experience and performance.

About Stefanini Group

The Stefanini Group is a global provider of offshore, onshore, and nearshore outsourcing, IT digital consulting, systems integration, application, and strategic staffing services to Fortune 1000 enterprises. With a presence in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia, Stefanini serves over four hundred clients across industries such as financial services, manufacturing, telecommunications, chemical services, technology, public sector, and utilities. Stefanini is a CMM Level 5 company.