Senior Manager, Merchandising of Apparel & Accessories

VANS EMEA is looking for an exceptional Senior Merchandising Manager of Apparel & Accessories to join our Merchandising team based in Stabio, Switzerland.

Vans® is the original action sports footwear company, rooted in authenticity and creativity. Founded in 1966, we have thrived on a legacy of impacting our greater community through four pillars: action sports, music, art and street culture.

Let’s Talk about the Role

You as the Senior Merchandising Manager of Apparel & Accessories will drive toward our ambition to be the leading apparel brand representing progressive skate and youth culture.

You will own the strategic and executional merchandising and Go-to-Market deliverables of the Apparel & Accessories categories for the EMEA line while creating global influence, alignment and partnership.

You will lead a team of Merchandisers to bring to life a market-relevant, profitable and successful range that represents progressing youth culture forward. Your exceptional knowledge of the competitive landscape, taste-level and passionate management style will inspire both internal teams, our customers and our consumer.

How You Will Make a Difference

You will achieve this by:

• LRP / Pre-season planning - Executes the global merchandising strategy through regional marketplace strategy. Ensures alignment with regional market dynamics and consumer preferences. Adapts and tailors global product assortments to meet regional needs while maintaining brand consistency and commercial success. Defines white space opportunities across wholesale and DTC in their respective category and marketplace responsibilities.

• Seasonal strategy, line architecture & pricing - In their respective category and marketplace responsibility, develop and manage regional line architecture and curated assortment strategies against demand-driving attributes. Set in-region pricing (with global guidelines). Balance mono-brand and multi-brand environments to align with brand and market objectives.

• Market & Consumer Insights: Leads the analysis of regional market trends, consumer behavior, and competitive landscape to inform product decisions and regional strategies. Provides insights and feedback to the global team to influence future product development and global strategy.

• Product line – In their respective category and marketplace responsibility, provide feedback on prototypes, based on consumer feedback/local needs.

• Localization and Regional Relevance: Collaborates with global merchandising, design, marketing, and cross-functional teams to develop and execute a compelling seasonal product line that reflects regional nuances and consumer preferences inclusive of SMU. Ensures the regional product assortment aligns with the global strategy while addressing local market demands and opportunities. In their respective category and marketplace responsibility, responsible to identify, communicate and drive regional relevance in SMU and other initiatives, such as incremental Capsules etc. including assortment definition, segmentation, customer specific initiatives, and align need with global functions

• In-season management – In their respective category and marketplace responsibility, provide input on marketplace execution and manage capacity. Work with regional Marketing and Planning to deliver financial targets. In-region final promo and markdown decision (within global guidelines/strategy).

• Financial Accountability: Achieves and exceeds financial targets for the region, working closely with regional planning teams to meet revenue, margin, and sell-through goals.

• Always on – In their respective category and marketplace responsibility, monitor and code consumer demand trends, using insights to shape planning and assortment decisions. Ad hoc reporting / analysis to support seasonal product decision-making.

• Team Leadership & Development: Manages and develops own merchant team, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration. Ensures continuous development of team capabilities through training, mentoring, and performance management.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborates with regional and global cross-functional teams to drive seasonal direction, product DNA, and filters within the region. Partners with global product leaders and regional partners to create compelling seasonal and annual product stories that resonate with regional consumers and drive brand loyalty.

• Regional Reporting & Feedback: Provides regular updates and reports on regional product performance, market trends, and consumer insights.

Skills for Success

You should be a seasoned merchandising leader, with:

• The ability to drive results while empowering people and creating an inspiring team culture

• The experience in leading multiple teams and people, providing coaching and development

• The capability to influence people and teams to achieve objectives

• Expertise in organizing the product development process to achieve milestones and deliverables

• Capacity to manage teams and projects through complex and changing environments

• A strong understanding of Product & Merchandising systems, tools and processes with the ability to manipulate them to drive results.

•  Previous retail buying experience, your wholesale marketplace experience and your ability to represent the region in Global and External communication to drive success in this role.

• Strong merchandising acumen to drive both MFP and Product Line choices with your team.

• Abilities to effectively build merchandising principles, partnership with planning and defining new ways of working to develop best practices.

What’s in it For You

We’re in the business of unleashing human potential, driven by the ideas, energy and commitment of our people. That’s why we offer comprehensive benefits that encourage mental, physical and financial well-being for all VF associates. When it comes to benefits, we’re the total package.

• A supportive feedback-based culture where respect and integrity guide us in what we do

• An inclusive international environment where people of diverse backgrounds, lifestyles and nationalities love working together

• Be part of an iconic lifestyle brand in a multi brand, multi countries organization

• On site gym offering health and well-being initiatives

• A discount card with 50% on all VF brands

• Break out areas offering complimentary hot drinks

Free to Be, Inclusion & Diversity

As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to foster a culture of belonging based on respect, connection, openness and authenticity. We are committed to building and maintaining a workplace that celebrates the diversity of our associates, allowing them to bring their authentic selves to work every day.

If you like what you have read and want to join our team then we would like to hear from you!