Assistant Director of Merchandise

Summary:

The Assistant Director of Merchandise will work closely with the Director of Merchandise to ensure the planning, development and execution of all retail and merchandise operations for the Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bandits and live events hosted at KeyBank Center.  This role will oversee all merchandise reporting, e-commerce, inventory schedules and product placement to drive revenue and strengthen each brand’s identity. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute seasonal merchandise plans aligned with brand identity, fan preferences, and sales and gross-profit targets.
• Plan, implement, and oversee high-volume retail operations during home games, including designing store and kiosk layout and setup display, managing inventory turnover, signage and reconciliation and reports.
• Oversee the e-commerce platform to ensure accurate product listings, inventory levels, photos and descriptions.
• Analyze retail performance metrics including conversion rates, average order value, units per transaction, sell-through rate, inventory turnover with age profile, revenue per transaction and ales by channel to identify trends, optimize product assortment and support data-driven decisions.
• Manage retail budgets, track profitability, and forecast sales targets including identifying and monitoring profit margin by product category, sales channel, and event; assess cost of goods, pricing, discounts, supplier costs and inventory movement to recommend pricing strategies and margin improvement opportunities.
• Ensure all products meet brand guidelines, quality standards and licensing requirements.
• Research market trends, use fan feedback and competitor offerings to identify new retail product opportunities for the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bandits to build range merchandise assortment while keeping offerings relevant and improving gross profit margin.
• Oversee cosigned merchandise sales for all concerts, comedians and other entertainment events at KeyBank Center.
• Complete pre and post event reviews for all cosigned merchandise events to make sure forecasted performance matches actuals. Pivot strategy for future events to match performance and tour/industry trends.
• Analyze merchandise sales figures, pricing, buying patterns, and sports market trends to anticipate product needs.
• Coordinate monthly inventory counts and reconciliation to maintain accurate, accessible and up-to-date physical merchandise inventory records.
• Preparation and documentation of timely, accurate merchandise sales statements and reports for management review, monthly sales reports and all other seasonal sales and promotions.
• Oversee product receiving, storage, and distribution to minimize inventory shrinkage and best use of space based on buying and storage cycles.  
• Collaborate with Director of Merchandise to offer products that support the marketing calendar and partnership initiatives.
• Manage and oversee merchandise team, providing training, coaching and development opportunities.
• Coordinate all aspects and ordering of staff uniforms, ensuring that the merchandise team meets and standards for presentation at all times.
• Ensure high standard of customer service in person and online.
• Maintains high level of confidentiality and professionalism.
• Other duties as assigned or required.

Minimum Qualifications for the Position:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or retail management or related field, preferred.
• 5+ years of retail merchandise experience, ideally in sports, entertainment or licensed products.
• Strong product development, buying and vendor negotiation skills.
• Proficiency in retail metrics, financial reporting, reducing shrinking and overseeing e-commerce fulfillment.
• Proficiency in Shopify and/or Retail Could retail POS / inventory system and Microsoft Office suite
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to interpret sales and trend data.
• Ability to work non-traditional hours including nights, weekends, and holidays

Critical Competencies:

• Adaptability – ability to keep functioning effectively when under pressure and maintain self-control in the face of provocation.
• Attention to Communication – ensuring all information is passed on to others who should be kept informed.
• Customer Orientation – demonstrated concerns for satisfying one’s external and internal customers.
• Flexibility – openness to different and new ways of doing things; willingness to modify one’s preferred method of doing things.
• Initiative – identifying what needs to be done and doing it before being asked or required by the situation.
• Managing Performance – taking responsibility for one’s own or one’s employees’ performance, by setting clear goals and expectations., tracking progress, ensuring feedback, and addressing problems promptly.
• Personal Accountability – takes responsibility for the results and future direction of the organization.
• Personal Credibility – demonstrated concern that one be perceived as responsible, reliable and trustworthy.
• Results Orientated – focused on the desired end result, setting challenging goals and meeting or exceeding them.
• Thoroughness – ensuring one’s own or other’s work and information is complete and accurate; careful preparation and following up with others to ensure commitments are fulfilled.

Work Environment & Physical Demands: 

• This role operations in both an office setting and in a live events setting. Live event coverage does consist of being around loud stadium noises and crowds. 
• While performing job duties, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, walk, run, reach, kneel, and crouch. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and focused vision.  Candidate must be able to lift and move boxes and merchandise of 50lbs.   

Compensation:

This role will pay an annual salary of $85,000 - $95,000.  Note: Wages will be determined based on factors such as candidate experience, qualifications, skill set and internal equity.

Benefits & Incentives:

• Medical Plans: Comprehensive and affordable medical plans; supplemental vision care, dental care, life insurance coverage, fully paid, short and long-term disability and life insurance coverage.
• Investments: 401(k) with employer matching; annual discretionary defined employer contributions
• Paid Time Off:  Generous paid time off including vacation, sick, volunteer time and diversity awareness days
• Sabres Experience: (up to 4) Comp tickets to Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bandits, Rochester Americans when available
• Wellness: Annual Health & Wellness fair, monthly wellness initiatives including but not limited to lunch & learns, fitness classes and challenges.
• Sabres Family: many annual social events for employees and their families to enjoy, including various holiday parties and activities. DEI committee with annual initiatives, ERG (Employee Resource Groups), Community Volunteer opportunities and more.

Hockey Western New York, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer