Vans: Associate Merchandiser

Now that you’ve found the job description, what’s next?

Vans is the original brand rooted in the authentic lifestyle of skateboarding. We are driven by our mission to inspire and empower everyone to live “Off The Wall” – embracing the youthful spirit of freedom, non-conformity, and relentless progression. Yesterday’s “Off The Wall” moment is today’s new normal, and at Vans, we believe in constantly outdoing ourselves. Together with our communities across the globe, our vision is to push culture forward because we believe that the pursuit of progression never ends. We are constantly inspired by the future generation of positive catalysts within our community.  

So, before we get to the job details, take a minute to learn a little more about us – our values and our culture. If you can see yourself working side-by-side with a team of people who think and live “Off the Wall,” Vans just may be the place for you.

To learn more about our values and our culture, visit Vans Careers or www.vans.com.

What will you do?

A day in the life of a Regional Associate Merchandiser at Vans looks a little like this.

Reporting to the Director of Merchandising, our Regional Associate Merchandiser will support the development and execution of merchandise strategies that delight the customer while meeting or exceeding the financial goals of the business. This person will work closely with the category lead to ensure Planning, In Season Country teams, Visual Merchandising, Digital, Marketing, and Retail Operations deliver “right product, right stores, right time.”

Let’s break down that day-in-the-life a bit more.

• LRP/Pre-season – Understands, supports and executes Marketplace strategy under leadership guidance
• Seasonal strategy, line architecture & pricing - In their respective category and marketplace responsibility, partner with their leader to develop and manage regional line architecture and assortment strategies. Set in-region pricing (with global guidelines). Balance mono-brand and multi-brand environments to align with brand and market objectives.
• In-season management – In their respective category and marketplace responsibility, provide input on marketplace execution and manage capacity. Work with regional planning to deliver financial targets. In-region final promo and markdown decision (within global guidelines/strategy).
• 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.
• Regional Relevance: - In their respective category and marketplace responsibility, responsible to identify and drive regional including assortment definition, segmentation, customer specific initiatives, and align need with global functions

What do you need to succeed?

We all have unique skills that we bring to work and celebrate every day. For this role, there are foundation skills you’ll need to succeed and excel. Additionally, while formal education in a related field is great to have, we are most interested in your 1 year of experience and professional achievements. 

The foundation skills you will need in this position are:

• Strong strategic and analytical ability
• Driven for results with strong financial acumen
• Excellent verbal and written ability; Adept at presenting information and storytelling
• Present problem analysis and recommended solutions in a creative and logical manner
• Organizational and time management skills
• Strong knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel and Outlook)
• Self-awareness, with a desire for constant self-improvement (goal –oriented)
• Excellent sense of style and color trends; athletically minded
• Location requirement: ideal candidate will reside within Southern California region and be in office in Costa Mesa, CA Tuesday – Thursdays weekly.

What do we offer you?

At Vans, we know you expect as much from us as we do from you. That is why we make a commitment to support and grow our people. We offer extensive development and growth opportunities for your current and future positions, a competitive compensation package, and a strong benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).

Our commitment extends beyond this and into your daily work life. We strive to foster a diverse and inclusive culture based on respect, connection, and authenticity. Our focus on DEI is at the foundation of who we are and what we do.