Sr. Director, Merchandise Manager - Backstage (Home/Mens/Kids)

Be part of an amazing story.

Macy’s is more than just a store. We’re a story. One that’s captured the hearts and minds of America for more than 160 years. A story about innovations and traditions…about inspiring stores and irresistible products…about the excitement of the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, and the wonder of the Thanksgiving Day Parade. We’ve been part of memorable moments and milestones for countless customers and colleagues. Those stories are part of what makes this such a special place to work.

Job Overview

The Senior Director, Merchandise Manager – Backstage leads a team of Off-Price Buyers and oversees merchandise selection and procurement for a designated segment of the Backstage business. They demonstrate strong product and trend acumen, collaborate with vendor partners to identify opportunities, and take full accountability for maximizing business performance and profitability. The Senior Director guides the Buying team through pre-season assortment planning, product selection, and pricing strategy to ensure a compelling and profitable merchandise assortment.

What You Will Do

• Review and present weekly open-to-buy updates and monthly sales forecasts.
• Evaluate assortments with a customer-first mindset, ensuring decisions reflect value and current product trends.
• Train, coach, and mentor buying teams to become strong drivers of the off-price business.
• Identify white space opportunities in the off-price market and bring them to life with speed and value.
• Analyze the business with an entrepreneurial lens, continually exploring new opportunities to deliver relevant products to customers quickly.
• Build strong, trustworthy vendor relationships by focusing on win-win solutions and demonstrating creativity and flexibility in negotiations—whether celebrating agreements or respectfully declining proposals.
• Identify and target key brands for sales growth; effectively position and pitch MOP (Macy’s Off-Price) to acquire new vendors.
• Maintain a reputation for credibility, integrity, and responsiveness with both internal and external partners.
• Oversee the development of pre-season financial plans at the department, vendor, and classification levels. Manage in-season liquidity to capitalize on opportunistic buys and dynamically reallocate sales plans across departments or vendors.
• Approve classification and brand strategies.
• Lead the development and execution of marketing strategies aligned with customer profiles.
• Foster a culture of growth and high morale by supporting the professional development of buyers and serving as a role model for associate and assistant buyers.
• Commit to personal growth by participating in ongoing professional development and training opportunities.
• Foster an environment of acceptance and respect that strengthens relationships, and ensures authentic connections with colleagues, customers, and communities. 
• In addition to the essential duties mentioned above, other duties may be assigned.

Skills You Will Need

People Leadership: Coaches, mentors, and develops a high-performing team of Off-Price Buyers; fosters a culture of learning, accountability, and morale.

Strategic Leadership: Leads long-term merchandise strategies, assortment planning, and financial forecasting.

Cross-Functional Influence: Collaborates effectively across departments and with external partners to drive results.

Executive Presence: Models credibility, confidence, and strong communication when representing the business internally and externally.

Product and Trend Acumen: Deep understanding of product categories and market trends, with a strong instinct for customer preferences in the off-price space.

Vendor Negotiation: Exercises seasoned negotiation skills with flexibility, creativity, and a focus on win-win outcomes.

Relationship Building: Establishes strong, trusting relationships with vendors and external partners to foster long-term success.

Financial Planning: Oversees open-to-buy, sales forecasting, and merchandise financial plans at a detailed and strategic level.

KPI Management: Deep understanding of retail performance metrics, including sales, gross margin, turn, and inventory productivity.

Entrepreneurial Mindset: Uses data and intuition to identify untapped business potential and introduce new ideas with confidence.

Clear Communicator: Practices open, consistent, and concise communication; presents information in a compelling, audience-appropriate manner.

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