Job Description

The Merchandising Director for UGG China is accountable for establishing, articulating, and executing the strategic merchandising vision for the UGG brand across all channels, including Retail, eCommerce, Retail Partners, and Wholesale. This role entails developing targeted channel-specific strategies and optimizing product assortments to best serve each market segment.

Functioning as a principal business partner to the UGG China General Manager, the Merchandising Director is responsible for overseeing the merchandising agenda and guiding the team toward achieving substantial growth and brand objectives that are consistent with long-term plans and shifting consumer preferences. The position further ensures that China's perspective is effectively integrated into global product planning processes.

This role requires ongoing collaboration with cross-functional teams such as PLM, Marketing, Planning, Operations, and Sales to deliver compelling assortments, enhance financial outcomes, and sustain the brand's leadership in the marketplace. Additionally, the Merchandising Director manages merchandising planning and retail allocation efforts to maximize sell-through and optimize inventory management.

30% Strategy & Merchandising Leadership
• Partner with Global Merchandising and the UGG China General Manager to develop and execute the product strategy aimed at achieving the UGG China Long-Range Plan (LRP).
• Lead the creation and implementation of the Merchandising Long-Range Plan (LRP), Merchandising Financial Plan (MFP), seasonal line plans, assortment strategies, and go-to-market initiatives across all channels, including collaborations, inline and MFO/SMU.
• Influence and translate global product direction into localized assortments that drive growth, differentiation, and brand elevation.
• Own the merchandising roadmap, incorporating core collections, products innovation, and collaboration projects.
• Manage merchandising forecasts and oversee in-season discounting to meet revenue and gross margin targets.

50% Category Management
• Direct category merchandising teams for Women's Footwear, Men's & Kids' Footwear, Apparel & Accessories (A&A), as well as MFO/SMU to address business requirements in China.
• Establish definitive product strategies and drive category expansion in alignment with brand positioning and commercial objectives.
• Foster effective and structured communication with the Global brand team, especially the PLM team, in order to strategically influence future line development based on the needs of the China market.
• Oversee maintenance of the China Line List and assume ownership of the Regional Line Plan, ensuring that product information in the FlexPLM system remains current and that internal teams are updated promptly.
• Optimize SKU count, depth, and breadth by channel to maximize sell-through and margin.
• Organize and execute the China Trade Show (CTS) in collaboration with Marketing, RP&WHS sales, and DTC teams. Lead the Merchandising team in preparing relevant seasonal sell-in tools including catalogs, assortment maps, presentation decks, and more.
• Guide the development of seasonal assortment plans with financial targets tailored to various store formats and channels for both online and offline platforms.
• Execute and manage Seasonal Investment Reviews for omni-channel operations, and oversee the order adjustment process in accordance with seasonal product strategies.
• Lead product exit and carryover strategies to project margin and brand integrity.
• Own product performance from launch through end-of-life, including in-season sell-through actions.
• Drive agility in response to rapid-changed market dynamics, weather impact, and competitive pressure.

Pinnacle & Collaboration Projects
• Lead pinnacle initiatives including global collaborations, regional collaborations, and regional co-creation projects.
• Drive brand heat and elevate brand equity through pinnacle channels and strategic product storytelling.
• Keep pushing and suggesting relevant local Collabs to keep fueling our brand momentum in Fashion.
• Amplify seasonal inline key styles, link with local GTM plan and drive sales momentum with quick-in & quick-out effect with proper sales channel plan.

Merchandising Planning & Execution
• Lead the Merchandising Planning team to manage pre-season product input, in-season promotional planning, and channel sell-through performance.
• Oversee product gross margin management and promotional effectiveness.
• Optimize channel discount phasing to ensure online and offline promotion & price consistency.
• Proactively manage the slow-moving products promotion with supply chain team, as well as omni-channel promotion approval to ensure gross margin achievement.

Inventory & Allocation Management
• Lead the Retail Allocation team to optimize inventory deployment and improve store-level inventory efficiency through logical analysis/forecast and a standard inventory transfer process.
• Ensure inventory strategies support sell-through, margin, and overall business performance.

20% Team management and teamwork
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing merchandising team.
• Establish clear goals, accountability, and decision-making frameworks.
• Build strong merchandising capabilities and succession planning.
• Win as a team and take initiative to optimize internal and external working process.
• Energize team to Voice out confidently for China needs.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration to achieve UGG China’s overall business objectives.
• Partner closely with Finance, Demand Planning, Marketing, Sales, and Operations teams to ensure alignment and effective execution.