Tapestry Senior Director, Global Merchandising, Footwear

About Tapestry

Tapestry is a New York–based house of modern luxury, uniting the distinctive worlds of Coach, Kate Spade, and Stuart Weitzman. As an employer, the group offers the scale and sophistication of a global fashion leader while preserving the creative spirit and heritage of its iconic brands. Tapestry cultivates an inclusive, purpose-driven culture where design, craftsmanship, digital innovation, and commercial excellence intersect. Its teams are encouraged to think boldly, grow continuously, and contribute to a more responsible future for fashion, making Tapestry a compelling environment for talent seeking impact, creativity, and international opportunity.

Role & Responsibilities

• Lead the global merchandising strategy for the Footwear category, translating creative direction into commercially viable product assortments that support brand and business objectives
• Develop short- and long-term category strategies that drive growth, productivity, and market relevance across all consumer segments, channels, and regions
• Partner with the VP, Global Merchandising to define category priorities, opportunities, and strategic initiatives that support broader brand goals
• Partner closely with Design to shape seasonal product concepts, key narratives, silhouette strategies, and assortment architecture
• Lead the creation and refinement of seasonal assortments across all distribution channels, ensuring alignment to brand positioning and category strategies
• Drive line architecture, style counts, product segmentation, pricing strategies, and assortment flow to optimize category productivity
• Partner with Product Development throughout the product creation process to ensure product execution meets quality, margin, costing, and timeline objectives
• Present category strategies and seasonal assortments to senior leadership and key stakeholders, building alignment and driving decision-making
• Partner with Business Unit Merchandising and Buying teams to understand regional business needs, customer preferences, and market opportunities
• Analyze consumer trends, market dynamics, and competitive landscapes to identify opportunities for growth and product innovation
• Monitor and analyze category performance, productivity, and key business metrics to inform strategic decision-making
• Drive recommendations related to assortment optimization, pricing strategies, product segmentation, and category expansion opportunities
• Partner with Planning, Finance, and Costing teams to establish pricing architectures, margin targets, and financial objectives
• Act as a key liaison between Merchandising, Design, Product Development, Planning, Marketing, Visual Merchandising, and regional Business Units
• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing merchandising team
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and development opportunities to build organizational capability and support succession planning

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 12+ years of merchandising, buying, or product strategy experience within footwear, accessories, luxury, fashion, or lifestyle brands
• Prior footwear experience is required
• Proven experience leading a global product category from concept through commercialization
• Strong experience partnering with Design, Product Development, Planning, and regional Business Unit teams
• Deep understanding of global merchandising, assortment planning, pricing architecture, and product lifecycle management
• 5+ years of people leadership experience with demonstrated success developing talent and building teams
• Experience operating within a complex, matrixed, global organization
• Strong commercial orientation with a demonstrated ability to drive profitable growth while maintaining brand integrity
• Exceptional product sensibility and strong merchant instincts with a passion for footwear and product creation
• Advanced analytical and financial acumen, including retail math, pricing strategy, margin management, and productivity analysis
• Ability to synthesize data, market insights, and consumer feedback into actionable business strategies
• Strong communication, influencing, presentation, and storytelling skills
• Effective partnership skills with the ability to influence across creative and commercial functions

Skills

Experience

12+ years of merchandising, buying, or product strategy experience within footwear, accessories, luxury, fashion, or lifestyle brands, with proven experience leading a global product category from concept through commercialization. Minimum 5+ years of people leadership experience with demonstrated success developing talent and building teams. Experience operating within complex, matrixed, global organizations required.

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.

Workplace

Compensation

The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 190,000 to USD 220,000 per annum.

Benefits

Medical insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, 401(k), Paid Paternity and Maternity leave, Commuter Benefits, Disability insurance, Tuition assistance.

Culture

Tapestry fosters a collaborative, inclusive workplace where creativity, craftsmanship, and consumer insight come together across its portfolio of iconic fashion and lifestyle brands. As an employer, it encourages entrepreneurial thinking, global perspective, and continuous growth, empowering teams to shape meaningful brand experiences while contributing to a culture of innovation and belonging.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.