Director, Merchandising

The Director of Merchandise is the senior leader responsible for end-to-end ownership of merchandise buying, pricing, assortment planning, and inventory strategy across the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, the new NWSL club, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Acting as the primary decision-maker for product investment and margin performance, this role carries direct accountability for revenue, gross margin, sell-through, inventory turns, and inventory risk. The Director partners closely with the VP, Retail as a thought leader and execution driver, shaping both near-term performance and long-term retail strategy.This role is designed for a builder. The Director of Merchandising will lead the stand-up of AMB Sports & Entertainment's in-house buying, pricing, and inventory capability as the organization transitions control from a third-party partner.Roles and ResponsibilitiesProduct Development & BuyingOversee product selection, buying and inventory to ensure a balanced, profitable and appealing product mixAnalyze market trends and consumer behavior to refine and elevate each team's product assortmentDevelop seasonal merchandise assortments aligned with brand strategy, fan insights, and sales goalsAbility to create and manage Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets, ensuring optimal inventory levels and alignment with sales targets while driving overall volumeUse sales data, market research, and KPIs to drive informed decisions and optimize performanceStrong product sense with the ability to identify trends and anticipate fan demandPartner with senior leadership to establish long-range financial plans, seasonal strategies and retail sales goals with an emphasis on unit sales across teamsDeep analytical skills, including sales reporting, forecasting, and inventory managementCreate and implement merchandising strategy across all locations, including regular site visits, merchandising plans and floor set plansCollaborate with the operations team to enhance visual merchandising and optimize the fan journey across each storeBuild annual timelines and calendars for custom collections with ability to map out 2 years in advanceAdvanced Excel skills (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, budget reconciliation)Forecast demand and manage replenishment to support sales peaks and seasonalityEnsure financial goals are met: revenue, sell-through, turn, GM% and markdown strategyConduct market, trend, and competitor analysis to inform product selection and pricing strategiesDrive alignment between merchandise plans and buying strategies with an emphasis on seasonality, customer journey and Present recommendations to leadership for product, pricing, and assortment improvementsProficiency in retail systems (e.g., ERP, POS, Excel, Mondays.com, analytics platforms)Ability to evaluate pricing strategies and margin improvement opportunitiesClear communication skills with ability to present findings to executivesStrong cross-functional collaboration with Marketing, Creative, Warehouse, and Retail OpsBuild seasonal production schedules and recurring inventory planningLead cross-functional meetings to align creative, marketing, retail, and operationsSource merchandise across multiple licensees to expand seasonal and evergreen assortmentsOversee stadium giveaway programs and major sponsorship merchandisingCollection Management & Sales ReportingLead product launch meetings and monthly retail reporting, including preparation of launch documents for both the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United.Track product timelines and shipping status; adjust PO start/cancel dates as neededDevelop launch plans including unit distribution, timelines, and campaign strategy for distribution to FanaticsLead execution of league retail initiatives in alignment with NFL & MLS guidelinesRegularly train store teams on product features, campaign priorities, and visual standardsMaintain strong communication and relationships with league partners, vendors, and licenseesPartner with Marketing, Creative, and Retail Operations to plan product launch momentsManage sales performance reporting within the team across launch milestonesOversee purchase order creation and receipt with Fanatics and licenseesAnalyze sales by location and product category to identify top performersCreate comprehensive recaps covering marketing, social, digital and sales performanceTime-management and organization skills to handle multiple launches and timelines simultaneouslyOversee in-store merchandising refreshes and signage rollout.Track key e-commerce KPIs through retail and affiliate linksWork with data analytics team on ad hoc retail reporting as neededGrow vendor partnerships supporting corporate retail programsRetail Marketing & Project ManagementLead team that manages in-store signage and maintain up-to-date promotional merchandisingManage workflows, timelines, and priorities using Monday.com boardsCoordinate order deliveries, freight tracking, and sample management for both clubsImprove delivery accuracy through enhanced communication workflows with stadium operationsProject manage 3rd party events including event logistics and event operationsManage Falcons and Atlanta United retail initiative calendars for venue and eCommAlign club retail launches with NFL & MLS Store platform rolloutLead MLS Licensee Portal management and seasonal submissionsParticipate in NFL & MLS Consumer Products Summit and league retail forumsManage large-scale departmental orders throughout the Blank Family of BusinessesIdentify new product and licensing opportunities and align with FanaticsQualifications and Education RequirementsBachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Supply Chain, Marketing, or related field10+ years in buying, merchandise planning and retail operations experience (sports, fashion, or consumer goods preferred)Experience working with licensed product programs and sports retail operations (e.g., NFL, MLS, NBA, NCAA) is a plusProven track record of managing seasonal buying cycles and vendor negotiationsMust be able to work select nights and weekend Atlanta Falcons games, Atlanta United matches, store product launches and 3rd party Mercedes-Benz stadium events as neededRequired SkillsStrong organizational and computer skills requiredFlexible and a team playerProficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint & Word)Excellent verbal and written communication skillsAbility to multi-task, problem solve effectively and handle stressful and difficult situationsAbility to lift 25 lbs on and occasional basisFlexibility to work extended hours, weekends, nights as dictated by the businessMust be assertive and eager to grow in an extremely fast paced organization