Merchant Manager - Kids/Baby Apparel

Job Description

A leading outdoor retail organization is seeking a Merchant Manager, Kids & Baby Apparel to join its merchandising team at its Springfield, MO headquarters. This individual will play a critical role in driving the growth and success of the Kids, Baby, and Youth Apparel business by owning category strategy, assortment planning, vendor partnerships, and overall business performance. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced merchant or buyer with a passion for children's apparel to build and grow an emerging category within a highly recognizable retail brand. The ideal candidate will bring a strong understanding of consumer trends, product development, assortment management, and vendor negotiations while staying closely connected to evolving customer preferences within the kids and baby apparel space. The Merchant Manager will oversee the category from end-to-end, collaborating with internal stakeholders and external vendors to develop compelling assortments that drive sales, profitability, and customer engagement. This role will also provide leadership to Assistant Merchants and serve as a key partner in category growth initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the Kids, Baby, and Youth Apparel category business from strategy through execution.
• Develop and manage seasonal assortments aligned with customer demand, trends, and business goals.
• Analyze sales performance, customer behavior, and market trends to drive category decisions.
• Build and maintain strong vendor relationships and negotiate product assortments and opportunities.
• Create and deliver executive presentations and category reviews using PowerPoint and reporting tools.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on planning, forecasting, inventory, and merchandising initiatives.
• Lead and mentor 1-2 Assistant Merchants.
• Identify emerging fashion and consumer trends to ensure assortments remain relevant and competitive.
• Drive category growth while maintaining profitability and brand alignment.

Skills and Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Business, Retail Management, Fashion Merchandising, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 5+ years of merchandising, buying, or category management experience within Kids, Baby, or Youth Apparel.
• Proven experience managing product assortments and vendor relationships.
• Strong analytical skills with experience evaluating category performance and consumer trends.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience creating executive-facing presentations and business reviews.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work onsite Monday through Friday in Springfield, MO or relocate to the area.
• Strong understanding of apparel trends, customer behavior, and retail merchandising strategies.
• Experience with nationally recognized children's apparel brands such as Carter's, The Children's Place, Gap Kids, H&M Kids, Abercrombie Kids, Cat & Jack, or similar retailers.
• Experience within large-scale retail or omnichannel merchandising environments.
• Familiarity with Power BI, AS400, merchandise planning systems, or retail inventory platforms.
• Experience leading or mentoring merchandising team members.
• Background managing apparel categories focused on children, infants, baby products, or youth fashion.
• Passion for retail trends, product innovation, and customer-focused merchandising strategies.

We are a company committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We are an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer that believes everyone matters. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic factors, age, disability, protected veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [email protected].