Director of Merchandise and Retail Operations

Position Summary

The Director of Merchandise and Retail Operations will develop a comprehensive merchandise assortment strategy, manage vendor relationships, and oversee day-to-day operations including retail stores and e-commerce.

What You Will Do

• Merchandise Strategy & Assortment Planning
• Develop a comprehensive merchandise assortment strategy across jersey, headwear, apparel, novelty, and collectible product categories
• Create category-specific assortment plans with recommended SKU counts, pricing architecture, margin targets, and product segmentation
• Develop product plans for seasonal collections, theme nights, and special promotions in conjunction with the sales and marketing teams
• Vendor Management & Product Development
• Develop products with ECHL-licensed vendors and manufacturing partners based on product quality, lead times, minimum order quantities, decoration methods, pricing competitiveness, and fulfillment capabilities
• Lead product development including concepts, graphic direction, decoration techniques, and material and garment selection
• Financial Planning & Inventory Management
• Develop and manage a comprehensive Open-to-Buy (OTB) plan by merchandise category
• Lead pricing strategy, margin optimization, and promotional cadence
• Report on sales by category, gross margin performance, per cap spend, average transaction value, and top-performing products
• Retail Operations & Reporting
• Oversee daily operation of the team store
• Lead game-day retail operations, including staffing, inventory replenishment, merchandising, and customer service
• Recruit, train, and manage part-time retail staff and interns
• Ensure store presentation consistently reflects organizational brand standards
• Develop and maintain retail operating procedures and best practices
• Manage POS systems and retail technology platforms
• E-Commerce & Digital Retail
• Own the club's e-commerce strategy and online store performance
• Optimize product listings, photography, merchandising, and promotional campaigns
• Collaborate with marketing on digital campaigns, email marketing, and product launches
• Identify opportunities to improve conversion rates, average order value, and customer retention

Skills You Will Need

• Strong planning, analytical, and financial management skills
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by the hockey calendar
• Cross-functional and collaborative skills to work with multiple internal and external stakeholders

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Retail Management, Sports Management, or related field
• 7+ years of retail, merchandising, e-commerce, or consumer products experience
• Demonstrated success managing inventory, buying, and retail operations
• Experience with apparel sourcing, product development, and vendor management