Apparel Merchandising Manager

In a world of noise, we find the signal — the pulse of potential. We weave the strands of talent, vision, and purpose into organizations that endure. Blending intelligence with intuition, we honor the human art of connection at the heart of every great company.

Signal & Strand is seeking an experienced
Apparel Merchandising Manager
to lead the planning, development, and execution of seasonal apparel assortments. This role sits at the center of the product creation process, partnering cross-functionally with Design, Development, Materials, and global teams to deliver compelling, profitable assortments that reflect consumer insights and market trends.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong product instincts, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to translate market opportunities into commercially viable product lines. This individual will manage the merchandising lifecycle—from concept and line architecture through costing, assortment finalization, and go-to-market presentation.

What You'll Do
1. Seasonal Line & Assortment Development

• Build and manage seasonal apparel assortments from concept through commercialization.
• Develop line architecture and product briefs aligned with brand strategy, consumer insights, and margin objectives.
• Partner with Design, Tech Design, and Product Development teams to ensure deliverables meet seasonal timelines and cost targets.
• Track development progress, ensuring all styles move through milestones on time.

2. Trend, Market & Consumer Analysis

• Analyze trend reports, market insights, and retail/wholesale feedback to identify new opportunities.
• Make recommendations for style additions, color expansions, adjustments, and product drops.
• Monitor competitor activity, category dynamics, and emerging patterns to evolve product strategy.

3. Costing, Pricing & Margin Management

• Partner with leadership on costing strategies and margin targets across the apparel line.
• Assign MSRP and channel-specific pricing based on financial goals, competitive context, and product positioning.
• Evaluate cost engineering opportunities to optimize margin while maintaining product integrity.

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as a core partner to Design, Materials, Product Development, Planning, Sales, and Retail teams.
• Communicate assortment changes, drops, and new style updates across wholesale, retail, and international partners.
• Ensure all product information in PLM and internal systems is accurate and up-to-date.

5. Go-to-Market Readiness

• Create compelling product presentations and selling tools that clearly communicate seasonal stories and category vision.
• Support seasonal line presentations to Sales, key accounts, retail teams, and international partners.
• Collaborate with Marketing to provide product knowledge and support creation of campaign assets.

6. Business Analysis & Performance Review

• Review weekly sales performance across channels and regions, applying insights to strengthen future assortments.
• Partner with Sales and Retail teams to understand account feedback, wins/challenges, and in-season opportunities.
• Monitor digital product accuracy and ensure alignment across site content, imagery, and descriptions.

What You Bring
Skills & Competencies

• Strong ability to influence, collaborate, and build productive cross-functional relationships.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, especially when presenting product strategy.
• Strong analytical capability, including retail math and data-driven decision-making.
• Solid understanding of cost engineering, margin targets, and product financials.
• Creative problem-solving approach and ability to pivot quickly.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience with PLM systems.

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in apparel merchandising, buying, or product development.
• Proven experience developing assortments and pricing strategies across multiple channels (retail, wholesale, e-commerce, international).
• Experience collaborating closely with design and development teams.

Education

• Bachelor's degree required.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• Own the end-to-end merchandising process for a growing apparel category.
• Work closely with cross-functional design and development teams to shape product strategy.
• Influence go-to-market execution and drive product decisions that directly impact consumer experience and revenue.
• Join a team that values creativity, innovation, and category leadership.

Base Compensation Range: $100,000 USD - $120,000 USD

Equal Opportunity & Non-Discrimination Statement
Signal and Strand is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We—and our clients—do not discriminate in employment or contracting on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

We comply fully with the provisions of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We are committed to providing a workplace that is inclusive, respectful, and free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.