Associate Corporate Merchant – Accessories

At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging and creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome—both here and Outside. We value individual differences and are dedicated to maintaining an inclusive work environment where everyone can bring the best of their experience and talents and truly thrive.

We're driven by a shared passion for delivering exceptional products and experiences that inspire people to enjoy the outdoors. As an Associate Corporate Merchant for our Accessories category, you'll join a collaborative, values-driven team that works across functions to shape product assortments, influence business strategy, and bring innovative ideas to life.

Position Purpose:

This Associate Corporate Merchant will work to achieve sales, gross margin, brand positioning and profit goals of a specific business through the selection, pricing and promotion of merchandise that maximizes the Company's return on investment for our Accessories category. Develop and implement category strategies including analysis and appropriate reaction to sales trends in order to maximize business. Creates the line plan and acts as the "Final Editor" of the line and line plan. Provide direction and continuously communicate with internal partners including Retail Merchandising, Ecommerce, Merchandise Planning, Product Development, Design, Inventory Management and Creative - reinforcing the division's goals and strategies.

This role is based at our beautiful Corporate Headquarters in Freeport, Maine. As an on-site position, regular in-person collaboration is essential, with an expectation of being in the office 4-5 days each week.

Responsibilities: Strategy

• Concept Ideation: Perform market research; assess the competition; bring forward new product ideas
• Strategic Planning: Participates in strategic planning discussions as a learner; provides input

Market Research

• Gather market data & create reports to support assessment of competition - preseason / in season (i.e., ratings & reviews; market basket)

Planning & Analytics

• Reviews & reports out on ratings & reviews
• Provides input to the development of Division level concepts, items, and promotional strategies
• Provides input to merchandising & selling the line
• Review & provide input to in-season markdowns

Core Work: Tools and systems management

• Maintains & ensures data integrity for variety of systems
• Communicates changes to stakeholders
• May manage photo sample process

For assigned business areas

• Responsible for the line plan
• Identify opportunities & risks through analyzing sales performance and gathering marketplace information
• Participates in review of sales, receipt flow, inventory & margin projections to maximize sales & minimize risks
• Provide support & coordination for the team and manage small SKUs/Dollars demand center
• Communicates to cross-department group; makes presentations
• Performs moderately complex analysis of data. Identifies trends. Makes suggestions.

Additional duties as assigned
Health and Safety Requirement: Every employee is responsible for contributing to a safe and healthy workplace. Employees are expected to be active participants in health and safety by following all safety policies and procedures, reporting unsafe conditions or at-risk behaviors to leadership, and conducting work in a safe manner. Those in a leadership role are also expected to model safe behaviors, evaluate risk, and ensure that risks are reduced to acceptable levels.
Education Level: 4-Year Bachelors Degree
Years of Experience: 1+ years

Skills and Qualifications:

• Must live within a commutable distance to the Corporate HQ located in Freeport, Maine
• 2+ years of Assistant or Associate Corporate Merchant experience
• Strong analytical and business decision-making skills
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration and communication
• Shows emerging leadership skills as evidenced by ability to delegate & mentor others.
• Tasks are tactical in nature.
• Solid written & verbal skills.
• Multiple tasks assigned and reviewed only after completion.
• Merchandise and institutional process knowledge preferred
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Exceptional organizational skills with extreme attention to detail
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks while effectively meeting deadlines
• Work efficiently without direct supervision
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, experience with database utilization
• Team player with ability to work effectively with diverse personalities
• Must be able to handle difficult situations in a calm, professional manner
• Creative problem-solving abilities
• Flexible in ever-changing, fast paced environment

L.L.Bean uses a market-based compensation approach. The anticipated starting base pay for this position is $65,800.00-$82,200.00. Individual compensation may vary based on factors such as a candidate’s experience, qualifications, education, geographic location, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role.

If you care about the outdoors, joining L.L.Bean is a great way to feel good about what you do. Our benefits package makes a good thing even better, with programs and perks designed to support your health and financial goals. Plus, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and re-charging outside are all part of the plan.

If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you'd be great at this role, we'd love to learn more about you! At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us. We strive to reflect this every day in our commitments to employees and partners and in our efforts to promote belonging.