Senior Merchant

Job Title: Merchant – Kids Footwear (6 months + Contract)

Location: Boston, MA

Rate: Up to $45/hr on W2

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Merchant – Kids Footwear to support corporate merchandising operations across retail stores and e-commerce channels for our client.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience in product assortment management, merchandise planning, sales and inventory analysis, pricing, and product lifecycle management within the footwear, apparel, or retail industry.

This is a highly collaborative, execution-focused role that requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple merchandising priorities in a fast-paced retail environment.

Key Responsibilities

Merchandising & Assortment Management

• Manage and execute kids' footwear assortment plans, product grading, store distribution, and merchandise lifecycle activities.
• Support seasonal assortment planning, product launches, and go-to-market (GTM) initiatives.
• Partner with planning and allocation teams to optimize product availability and store-level inventory.
• Support product catalog management, sample management, and seasonal merchandising tools.

Sales Analysis & Business Reporting

• Analyze weekly sales, inventory, sell-through, product trends, out-of-stock conditions, and replenishment opportunities.
• Prepare weekly merchandising reports, product launch reviews, test results, and monthly business recaps.
• Support weekly category reviews, DTC trading meetings, allocation meetings, and demand planning discussions.
• Identify merchandising opportunities related to sales performance, pricing, promotions, and inventory optimization.

Pricing & Merchandising Operations

• Coordinate retail and digital price changes across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.
• Monitor e-commerce product listings for pricing accuracy, product availability, and data integrity.
• Support product setup and data maintenance using merchandising systems such as Centric PLM and Aptos.
• Investigate and resolve product setup, pricing, and system-related issues.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with merchandising, planning, allocation, e-commerce, retail operations, and distribution teams.
• Prepare seasonal GTM presentations and merchandising communications for retail stores.
• Support merchandise launches, promotional events, store visit reporting, and seasonal business planning.

Required Qualifications

• Experience in corporate retail merchandising , preferably within footwear, apparel, or accessories.
• Hands-on experience in assortment planning, merchandise lifecycle management, and store distribution .
• Strong knowledge of retail sales analysis, inventory management, sell-through, pricing, and replenishment .
• Experience supporting merchandising activities across retail stores and/or e-commerce channels.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience preparing merchandising reports and business analysis.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate across cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in kids' footwear, athletic footwear, or lifestyle footwear merchandising.
• Experience within a large direct-to-consumer (DTC) or multichannel retail organization.
• Familiarity with Centric PLM, Aptos, or comparable merchandise management systems.
• Experience with seasonal go-to-market planning and product launches.

Ideal Candidate

A hands-on merchandising professional with a strong understanding of retail product assortments, inventory performance, pricing execution, and merchandising operations. Someone who can analyze business trends, coordinate with cross-functional teams, and ensure accurate execution of merchandising activities across physical and digital retail channels.