Merchandising Director - Category Management, Jewelry

Blue Nile is seeking a Director of Category Management, Jewelry to lead strategy, performance and evolution of jewelry categories. This leader will own assortment strategy, product architecture, financial performance, lifecycle management and merchandising expression of the business. The Director will use a combination of merchant intuition, customer insight, competitive intelligence to maximize existing sales and create incremental revenue streams based on growth opportunities. In this role you will create a curated, differentiated jewelry assortment to strengthen the Blue Nile brand point of view while delivering against revenue, margin, productivity and inventory objectives. The ideal candidate will leverage taste level, customer instincts and deep analytic acumen to identify opportunities, make decisive assortment choices and mobilize cross-functional partners around a clear category vision. Responsibilities - Category Strategy and Ownership: Own the vision, strategy and commercial performance for Blue Nile jewelry categoriesDevelop multi-year category strategies that define the role of each category within the broader jewelry portfolio and identify opportunities for growth, differentiation and portfolio evolutionEstablish clear assortment architecture across key product segments, price points, materials, styles and customer needsIdentify category white space and translate customer, competitive and performance insights into actionable product opportunities. Serve as the category authority - maintain a deep understanding of the customer, product landscape, competitive environment and emerging jewelry trendsBuild compelling business cases and recommendations for category investments, assortment changes and new growth opportunitiesPartner with Site Merchandising, Creative, Marketing, Technology and Retail to ensure Diamond Basics are presented in ways that make selection inspiring, understandable and intuitive on site and in store Establish product priorities for category pages, search, sort, recommendations, storytelling, marketing, and promotional placementsEnsure hero products and key assortment stories receive appropriate visibilityBalance visibility of proven core products with strategic newness and growth opportunities Translate complex product differences into clear merchandising stories that help customers quickly understand why a product mattersProvide Retail partners with clear product priorities and category stories that Client Advisors can confidently bring to customers Responsibilities - Assortment & Curation: Lead the development of assortments that balance core business, newness, innovation and distinctive productDetermine the appropriate breadth, depth, mix, price architecture and SKU productivity required to achieve category objectivesAnalyze performance at the category, collection, style, price point, metal, stone and SKU level to identify opportunities to expand, maintain, reposition, or exit productsContinually edit and evolve the assortment to ensure every product has a clear role and the portfolio reflects a distinct Blue Nile point of viewManage product lifecycle from introduction through growth, maturity, and exit Balance data-driven decision making with strong merchant judgment and an understanding of what creates emotional connection with the customer Responsibilities - Product Development & Newness: Partner closely with Product Development, Design, Sourcing and other cross-functional teams to translate category opportunities into compelling product strategies and development briefsDefine opportunities for new collections, extensions of winning concepts and evolution of core assortmentCreate clear assortment frameworks and commercial guardrails for product development, including price architecture and product positioningLead merchandising strategy for new product and collection launches ensuring the right assortment, depth, positioning, storytelling and customer experienceEstablish success criteria for launches and use post-launch performance to inform future developmentConduct regular competitive assortment, pricing, product and positioning reviewsTranslate marketplace insights into specific recommendations for Blue Nile's assortment and category strategyBalance external trends with a clear understanding of what is distinctive and appropriate for the Blue Nile brand Responsibilities - Financial & Commercial Management: Own category performance against revenue, margin, inventory productivity and other established business targetsPartner with Planning and Finance to develop category forecasts and investment strategiesRegularly assess category performance, diagnose underlying drivers and establish action plans to address opportunities and risksUnderstand the relationship between assortment, price, demand, inventory, margin and customer behaviorPartner with Demand Planning to ensure inventory investments are aligned to category priorities and demand opportunitiesTranslate complex business performance into clear recommendations and decisive actions for senior leadership Responsibilities - Leadership: Act as the connective leader across Merchandising, Planning, Product Development, Design, Sourcing, Marketing, Creative, Finance, Operations, Technology and RetailEstablish clear category priorities and ensure partners understand the strategy, commercial opportunity and desired customer outcomeInfluence senior stakeholders through compelling product vision, rigorous analysis, and clear recommendationsLead, coach, and develop a high-performing Category Management teamEstablish clear objectives, expectations and accountability across the organizationDevelop team members' merchant capabilities, including product judgment, analytics, assortment building, financial acumen and executive communicationBuild organizational capabilities and processes that enable increasingly sophisticated category management Requirements Bachelor's degree in business, Economics, Analytics, Marketing or a related field8-12+ years' experience in merchandising Strategic mindset with a focus on translating complex data into actionable business strategiesAbility to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with shifting prioritiesProven expertise in pricing strategy, margin analysis and product mix optimizationStrong analytical and quantitative skills with proficiency in tools such as Excel, SQL, Tableau or similar platformsExceptional leadership skills with experience managing and developing high-performing teamsExcellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments Benefits At Blue Nile, many of our roles offer a high-quality, comprehensive benefits package including healthcare, paid time off, retirement planning and opportunities for career advancement. Some offerings are dependent upon the role, employment type, work schedule or location: Paid Time OffCompetitive Employee DiscountMedical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Insurance401(k) Retirement Plan with Company MatchFlexible Spending Account | Health Savings AccountTuition ReimbursementParental LeaveLife Insurance Annual base pay: $150,000 - $200,000. Final pay rate shall be determined and is based on experience and qualifications. At this time, Blue Nile will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position. Additional Information: Blue Nile is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender reassignment, citizenship, immigration status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited under applicable federal, state or local law. Blue Nile will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws.