Sr. Director, DMM - Kids

The Divisional Merchandise Manager (DMM) is a business owner and category strategist. This leader is accountable for defining and executing a compelling merchandising strategy that delivers innovation, drives profitable growth, and deepens emotional connection with fans. The DMM owns our Ecommerce end-to-end assortment strategy — across Fanatics-owned vertical brands and external market vendors — and is responsible for merchandise performance across the Ecommerce network. This role reports into the SVP, Merchandising (GMM) and leads a team of merchants, working in close partnership with Planning, Product Development, Marketing, Supply Chain, Operations and Site Experience to bring the Fanatics vision to life — on time, with clarity, and at scale.

How You Will Make an Impact: 

Category Strategy & Assortment Leadership 

• Define and execute a merchandising strategy that supports Fanatics’ brand and financial goals — spanning Core, Fashion, Seasonal, and Event-Driven (Hot Market) product lifecycles. 

• Build a balanced, fan-first assortment that blends product accessibility with exclusivity — grounded in trend insights, data, and emotional fan connection. 

• Shape the Fanatics point of view in the category: what we stand for, what we offer, and how we differentiate. 

• Own the category’s 'Good, Better, Best' framework and lifecycle plan to ensure clarity across vertical and market brands. 

• Partner closely with Product Development to lead vertical brand strategy and influence the design, positioning, and cadence of Fanatics-owned product. 

Vendor & Market Partner Leadership 

• Serve as the face of Fanatics to key brand partners and vendors — building collaborative relationships that support category growth and exclusivity. 

• Lead negotiations to secure favorable terms, exclusive product access, and long-term scale. 

• Represent Fanatics’ merchandising vision externally, positioning the brand as a category leader and fan-first innovator. 

• Curate the vendor matrix to eliminate redundancy, elevate product storytelling, and optimize productivity. 

Business Performance & Financial Accountability 

• Own divisional financial performance — including sales, gross margin, markdowns, turn, and inventory productivity. 

• Partner with Planning to build receipt plans, drive OTB strategies, and manage in-season performance. 

• Use insights to inform buy depth, exit strategies, pricing actions, and risk mitigation. 

• Build clear business cases for growth investments, always balancing creativity with commercial rigor. 

Team Leadership & Talent Development 

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-impact team of buyers and category merchants — modeling ownership, curiosity, and customer-centric decision-making. 

• Set clear expectations, build strong merchant acumen, and cultivate strategic thinking across the team. 

• Foster a culture of bold leadership, collaboration, and accountability — creating space for diverse perspectives and high performance. 

Champion our BOLD Leadership Principles through your team: 

• Build Championship Teams: Prioritize talent development, clear accountability, and a winning mindset. 

• Obsessed with Fans: Center decisions on delivering incredible value, emotion, and innovation to fans. 

• Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit: Encourage risk-taking, learning agility, and new ideas that challenge the status quo. 

• Determined and Relentless Mindset: Demonstrate urgency, resilience, and an unwavering drive to win. 

Fan Obsession & Market Agility 

• Stay deeply connected to the voice of the fan — leveraging social, trend, and transactional signals to anticipate demand and evolve product direction. 

• Actively monitor the competitive landscape and marketplace dynamics to ensure relevance and speed. 

• Be the category expert across vertical and market brands — understanding trend, brand equity, product architecture, cost of goods, and vendor capabilities. 

What You Bring to the Team

• Deep senior-level experience in Merchandising, with a proven track record of owning category strategy and performance in complex, omnichannel retail environments. 

• Demonstrated leadership of both vertical/private brand and market vendor businesses. 

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