Director, Merchandising, Utility

Overview

The Director of Merchandising for Utility oversees the merchandising strategy, line architecture, and commercial performance for the work boot product category. The role balances consumer insights, competitive trends, and financial goals to build a profitable, channel-right assortment. Working cross-functionally with Product, Sales, Marketing, Insights, and Planning, this position translates market feedback and category analytics into informed assortment decisions, pricing direction, and whitespace opportunities. It also guides seasonal GTM readiness and ensures Utility products are positioned and communicated effectively across global markets. This role supports the long-term growth of the Utility category through clear merchandising strategy, thoughtful product planning, and consistent market evaluation.

Essential Functions

Description

• Leads the end-to-end merchandising strategy for the Utility product line, ensuring alignment with brand vision, long-term business objectives, and market opportunities. Owns the seasonal line architecture and multi-year roadmap, driving a profitable and consumer-right assortment across categories, channels, and regions.
• Defines and optimizes the product portfolio through data-driven insights, managing lifecycle planning, SKU efficiency, margin performance, and segmentation strategies. Partners with Product, Sales, and Insights teams to translate market and consumer feedback into commercially viable opportunities—identifying whitespace, guiding franchise management, and informing new product initiatives.
• Oversees comprehensive market, competitor, and consumer analyses to inform product positioning, price architecture, and assortment decisions. Synthesizes insights to guide revenue planning, margin optimization, and strategic forecasting for divisional and enterprise-level planning.
• Directs the GTM process, ensuring seasonal strategies, launch timelines, and cross-functional alignment across Merchandising, Product, Sales, and Marketing. Leads the development of merchandising tools and selling assets (line plans, merch guides, price architecture, sell-in/sell-through tools) that clearly communicate product strategy and value.
• Serves as a key merchandising voice in pre-line, line review, and key account presentations. Provides strategic guidance to cross-functional partners to ensure assortments meet consumer needs, support revenue goals, and respond to competitive dynamics.
• Owns pricing frameworks, ensuring alignment with financial targets and market dynamics. Partners closely with Planning and Sales to ensure channel-right assortments, margin health, and profitable market penetration.

Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without cause.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Merchandising, Business Administration, Marketing, Finance, Retail Management, or related field required.
• Minimum eight (8) years of relevant experience in merchandising, category management, product strategy, or a related field with experience in a senior or strategic merchandising role, with direct experience leading assortment planning, pricing architecture, and go-to-market execution

Any equivalent combination of experience and education which clearly indicates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position may substitute on a year for year basis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep understanding of product lifecycle management, SKU rationalization, pricing architecture, and segmentation strategies.
• Strong grasp of consumer behavior, buying trends, market dynamics, and competitive landscape analysis.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, margin optimization, and sales performance analysis.
• Expertise in aligning merchandising strategy with marketing and sales initiatives for successful product launches.
• Knowledge of wholesale, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer (DTC) strategies.
• Ability to develop long-term merchandising plans that align with corporate growth objectives.
• Proficiency in evaluating sales data, market trends, and performance metrics to drive informed merchandising decisions.
• Strong ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, and deliverables across teams.
• Skilled in partnering with Product, Sales, Marketing, and Finance to drive business success.
• Ability to present data-driven insights and strategies to leadership, sales teams, and key accounts.
• Experience with merchandising tools such as PLM software (e.g., Centric), ERP systems, and Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Ability to pivot strategies based on market shifts, sales trends, and business needs.
• Ensures merchandising plans are executed with precision, aligning with brand and revenue goals.
• Stays ahead of emerging industry trends, technologies, and consumer expectations.
• Ability to support and lead merch focused long range plan for Keen Utility.
• Strong people management experience, leadership skillset

Travel Required: Yes, up to 25% of the time.

Salary Range: $169,500 to $188,300

This range represents the low and high ends of the anticipated base salary range for this position. The actual base salary will depend on numerous factors such as experience, knowledge, skills, and location. Our base salary is just one component of our competitive total rewards strategy, which includes numerous benefits and perks as well as specific health and welfare benefits.

Why Work at KEEN:Driven by a passion for life outside, KEEN is a values-led, independently owned brand from Portland, Oregon, that's on a mission to create original and versatile products, improve lives, and inspire outside adventure. Founded in 2003, KEEN launched a revolution in the footwear industry with the introduction of the Newport adventure sandal, and has donated more than $18 million to non-profit organizations and causes around the world to promote responsible outdoor recreation, including conservation efforts to protect open spaces. KEEN strives to show the world through its products and its actions that a business for good can actually be good for business. By giving back, reducing impact, and activating communities and individuals to protectthe places where we work and play, KEEN puts its values in motion and takes action to leave the world a better place.

At KEEN, we believe in a more just and equitable future for all people. As a global brand, we acknowledge that our business, buildings, and daily lives exist within the traditional territories of indigenous peoples. We strive for a future that recognizes the knowledge, rights, and resilience of these peoples.

KEEN Footwear is an equal opportunity employer. We value an inclusive and diverse community. Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.