VP, Merchandising & Licensing in New York at Alex and Ani

Title: VP, Merchandising & Licensing Classification: Full-time, Exempt Location: Remote (US, EST hours)Reports To: CEO
We’re seeking a VP, Merchandising & Licensing to lead product and partnership strategy, owning the merchandising and licensing departments to drive revenue growth and margin expansion under the brand's ethos and vision. This leader sets the strategic agenda for assortment, licensed product, and external partnerships — ensuring merchandising and licensing decisions work together to build a clear brand that is differentiated and durable.
Key Responsibilities

• Own the merchandising and the licensing departments, each accountable for its own revenue growth, margin, and capital efficiency
• Partner to develop rich, seasonal hindsighting from planning and translate it into the merchandising plan — setting direction on price, silo mix, and depth of buy.
• Own curation and roll-forward of the assortment, ensuring it stays cohesive, differentiated, and aligned with the plan season over season.
• Manage the Sr Director of Merchandising, who owns day-to-day execution.
• Partner with the design and product development teams (reporting through Ops) to ensure product aligns with merchandising strategy.
• Bring a risk-tiered lens (high conviction / medium conviction / new bet) to line planning, working with Planning to align on markdown strategy for higher-risk skus.
• Align sales levers and promotional bets with merchandising data without eroding margin or brand perception.
• Serve as the key point of contact for licensing partners, leading negotiation and relationship management to drive incremental revenue for the licensing P&L.
• Lead strategy and execution for special projects around exclusives and brand partnerships
• Partner with marketing/creative on partner proposals and ensure initiatives meet brand, product, and packaging standards.
• Review licensing agreements and partnership terms with external legal as needed.
• Drive PR/media and TV exposure opportunities to build brand visibility.
• Monitor the competitive marketplace and adjust strategy to keep the business differentiated.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Business, or related field.
• 8+ years progressive experience in merchandising or licensing; 4+ years in a management role with P&L ownership.
• Experience in e-commerce or DTC retail, with an understanding of how omni-channel sales data drives merchandising and assortment decisions.
• Strong financial acumen, analytical skills, and negotiation experience.
• Proven track record meeting/exceeding plan and managing cross-functional teams to drive results.
• Experience with licensing contracts, brand compliance, and PR/media exposure a plus.
• Strong communicator, comfortable in a fast-paced, lean environment.