Job Title: Category Merchandising 2 Merchant Ii, Kids Apparel (North America)
Location: Beaverton, Or (Onsite, 4/1 Hybrid Schedule)
Duration: 7+ Months
ROLE SUMMARY
A contract Merchant II seat on the North America Kids Apparel merchandising team at a global sportswear leader. You'll support Lead Merchants through the seasonal Go-To-Market (GTM) process sample management, seasonal deck creation, assortment planning and line reviews while partnering with marketplace, Direct, brand marketing, demand planning and sales teams. Ideal for someone with 2+ years of retail/merchandising/buying experience who is detail-obsessive, coachable, and wants to grow into full merchant ownership.
WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH
This posting is for Merchant II - Kids Apparel, within the North America Merchandising function.
You'll partner with several cross-functional teams, including geo consumer and marketplace merchandising, brand marketing, demand planning, sales as well as global sport merchandising teams. A key enabler of your success will be your background and experience in retail, along with your ability to collaborate and build strong working relationships.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Everything begins and ends with the consumer. We are looking for a consumerist with a strong affinity for product who thrives at the pace of retail and the ever-evolving marketplace. A successful Merch II in the Kids business contributes to an inclusive, positive, and progressive team dynamic while bringing curiosity, energy, and passion to the work.
You are a curious, coachable merchant with a demonstrated understanding of the consumer and marketplace dynamics. You have an entrepreneurial mindset, a willingness to learn through experimentation, and excitement for new concepts and ideas. You're comfortable with ambiguity, forward-thinking in your approach, and agile in how you operate.
MUST-HAVE
" 2+ years of experience in Retail, Merchandising, Product Management, Marketplace, Buying or a related field
" Demonstrated understanding of the consumer and marketplace dynamics
" Excel expertise (V lookups, pivot tables, etc.), Keynote, Outlook
" Strong attention to detail with efficient ways of working
" Team-first mentality with positive energy and a collaborative approach
" Curious, coachable, willingness to learn through experimentation
NICE-TO-HAVE
" Entrepreneurial mindset with experience contributing to new concepts, projects, or ideas
" Proficiency in analyzing business and consumer trends
" Ability to manage multiple deadlines and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
" Effective verbal and written communication skills, including presenting to cross-functional partners
" Comfortable with ambiguity, forward-thinking in approach, agile in operation
EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTIONS
" Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training. (Degree preferred, not a hard requirement.)
WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON
You will support strategy and ideation, product assortments, line planning, and the use of data and analytics to drive end-to-end profitability. Success in this role comes from developing strong cross-functional relationships, applying thoughtful research and analysis, and maintaining a genuine curiosity and commitment to continuous learning and growth.
" Support Lead Merchants throughout the seasonal Go-To-Market (GTM) process
" Help communicate seasonal product updates to marketplace and Direct partners
" Assist in the creation and sharing of seasonal information, including managing samples
" Support alignment with sport-focused teams to ensure a cohesive product offering in the marketplace
" Contribute to product assortment planning and line reviews through data-driven insights