Job Description
JOB MISSION
The General Manager, Category Merchandising Lifestyle is a strategic leadership role responsible for defining and driving the merchandising vision, strategy, and execution for the Lifestyle portfolio across the North America Region. Based in Boston, MA, this position leads a team of Merchandising Managers and partners cross‑functionally to deliver consumer‑right assortments that meet brand and commercial goals across all channels.
Serving as the bridge between Global direction and Regional execution, this leader ensures Global Strategy is executed with excellence while integrating North American marketplace nuances to maximize impact. The role balances the art and science of merchandising, bringing company goals to life through a brand‑led, consumer‑first mindset that drives franchise health and influences both brand and commercial functions across all merchandising deliverables.
MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES
Strategic Leadership & Global Strategy to Regional Nuance Alignment
Regionalise Global Strategy: Translate Global brand direction into regionally relevant merchandising strategy and assortment plans by integrating North American consumer insights and marketplace trends to maximise strategic impact.
Brand Goals & Commercial Alignment: Serve as the Region’s voice with Global Lifestyle leadership, influencing Global brand strategy while ensuring regional merchandising plans align with commercial goals across Wholesale and DTC (Retail + Ecommerce) channels throughout the GTM process.
Long‑Range Franchise Planning: Lead development of 3‑year franchise plans aligned to Global Strategy, providing visibility into seasonal direction, segmentation, and market share projections tied to long‑term objectives.
Go‑to‑Market Execution: Create and present seasonal Lifestyle category strategy for the Region, including distribution and segmentation guidelines, price architecture, margin implications and influence both Global, Regional Channel Merchandising, Sales, Planning, Marketing, and Operations counterparts as per defined GTM process.
Assortment Architecture & Brand‐Led Influence
Franchise & Lifecycle Management: Oversee seasonal line planning, assortment architecture, franchise performance, and SKU productivity for the Lifestyle category.
Directed Assortments: Lead creation and refinement of Directed Assortments across channels, including modules, clusters, and omni‑channel opportunities.
Brand‑Led Sell‑In & Sell‑Through Optimization: Partner across the region to ensure on‑strategy execution of seasonal plans, assess depth to meet commercial goals, and influence sell‑in quantities to maintain marketplace premiumness and inventory health.
Channel Mapping: Partner on geographic, tiers, doors, and site mapping to deliver a best‑in‑class consumer experience.
In‑Season Partnership & Marketplace Insights
Demand & Supply Integration: Align demand and supply by managing merchandising‑led forecast milestones, support marketplace management and ensure Directed Assortments land with precision that reinforce seasonal strategy.
Risk Identification & Mitigation: Surface in‑season risks early, identify structural gaps and drive decisive, brand‑aligned actions with cross‑functional Global & Regional partners to protect near‑term performance and long‑term strategy.
Hindsight, Insight, Foresight: Lead monthly and seasonal launch reviews, distill consumer and marketplace insights and translate findings into strategic guidance that informs in‑season decisions and strong category growth.
Culture, Leadership & Building for the Future
Team‑First Leadership: Foster an authentic, team‑first mindset that prioritises collaboration, inclusivity and shared success across the matrix.
New Balance Culture Alignment: Serve as a champion of New Balance culture, ensuring everyday operations reflect a dedication to performance, continuous learning, integrity and community.
Talent Coaching & Mentoring: Manage, train and coach merchandising associates while actively promoting professional development to build a high‑performing talent pipeline for the future.
Accountability & KPIs: Lead the team to create respective Directed Assortment KPIs and shared KPIs with commercial teams relative to Lifestyle business, establishing high standards for results.
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS
10+ years’ experience in e‑commerce at a leading consumer brand
Deep knowledge of lifestyle footwear business landscape ideally in same industry
A bachelor’s degree, preferably with a focus in business
Experience in managing large, high‑performing teams
Proven track record of business problem‑solving, collaboration and translating complex and unstructured data into clear strategic recommendations
Excellent communication and presentation skills, strong executive presence and ability to credibly deliver recommendations to senior leadership
Consumer‑obsessed, data‑driven and results‑oriented, but comfortable in breaking from past and building the new
Overall planning and organising competency; ability to hold multiple parties accountable to deadlines and deliverables
Ability to plan strategically and make merchandising decisions 1‑2 years in advance
Advanced skills in Excel and PowerPoint; proficient in Adobe or Google Analytics
Strong financial, analytical and retail math acumen
Proactive, “can‑do” attitude and fit to New Balance culture is a must
Location: Boston, MA Headquarters – (NB) Only Pay Range: $173,100 – $223,300 – $273,600 Annual (actual base pay varying based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, time in role, internal equity, geographic location, and more).
BENEFITS
New Balance offers a comprehensive traditional benefits package including three options for medical insurance as well as dental, vision, life insurance and 401(k). We also proudly offer a slate of more non‑traditional perks – opportunities like online learning and development courses, tuition reimbursement, $100 monthly student loan support and various mentorship programmes – that encourage our associates to grow personally as they develop professionally. You’ll also enjoy a yearly $1,000 lifestyle reimbursement, 4 weeks of vacation, 12 holidays and generous parental leave.
Temporary associates are provided three options for medical insurance as well as dental and vision insurance and an associate discount.
Part‑time associates are provided 401(k), short‑term disability, a yearly $300 lifestyle reimbursement and an associate discount.
Flexible Work Schedule: New Balance promotes a hybrid model with three days of in‑office work per week and “Work from Anywhere” for four weeks per calendar year.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
New Balance provides equal opportunities for all current and prospective associates to ensure that employment, training, compensation, transfer, promotion and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment are provided without regard to race, colour, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, handicap, genetic information and/or status as an Armed Forces service medal veteran, recently separated veteran, qualified disabled veteran or other protected veteran or any other protected status.
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Job Tags
Temporary work, Part time, Seasonal work, Work at office, Flexible hours