Director of Merchandising

About us

Talbots is a leading omni-channel specialty retailer of women's clothing, shoes and accessories. Established in 1947, we are known for modern classic style that's both timeless and timely, fine quality craftsmanship and gracious service. At Talbots relationships are the key to our business, we hire individuals who bring new ideas to the table, understand smart risk taking and can enhance an already thriving culture. With a commitment to offer modern classic style for every body type, through a full range of sizes, inclusive to every woman in your life.

Our Heritage is our Foundation. Our Relevance is our Future.

We are proud of the legacy we’ve built — trusted quality, timeless style, and a deep emotional connection with women 55+. But our next chapter is about evolution, not revolution. We are honoring what made us iconic while boldly stepping into a more modern, relevant future.

We design with intention

We fit with purpose

We deliver confidence every day

We champion style, confidence, and joy in every moment of her life

The Director of Merchandising will lead the end-to-end product strategy and assortment architecture across multiple categories. They will champion clarity in the line, elevate product storytelling, and drive speed, efficiency, and customer-obsessed decision making across all channels. This includes developing and executing a comprehensive product and merchandising strategy that drives revenue, increases market share, enhances profitability, and fosters innovation across retail, e-commerce, and catalog channels.

The role demands a merchant leader who combines an on-brand, product aesthetic sense, creative brand stewardship, deep customer insight, and sharp business acumen with operational excellence and a strong understanding of vertical retail dynamics.

Who You Are

• A product-obsessed merchant with magnetic taste level and a strong commercial acumen.
• A visionary who leads confidently into the future.
• A storyteller who understands the emotional role clothing plays in a woman’s life.
• A strategic operator who turns insights into action and ideas into scale.
• A people-first leader who builds trust, clarity, and shared purpose across teams.

The impact you can have

Product & Merchandising Strategy

• Define the multi-year product strategy to evolve the brand while honoring core strengths.
• Lead balanced product architecture across heritage classics, style-forward icons, and seasonal fashion — reigniting wow with intentional newness.
• Own pricing, value narrative, and product margin strategies that unlock growth and profitability.
• Ensure inclusive fit excellence and multi-size leadership are at the center of all decisions.

Omni-Customer Experience

• Deliver cohesive product stories and key item strategies across stores, catalog and digital.
• Integrate data-driven insights, competitive intelligence, and customer feedback to remain deeply relevant.
• Partner with Digital, Marketing, and Visual teams to inspire discovery, drive conversion, and build emotional connection.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Execution

• Partner with Design, Planning, and Sourcing to improve speed, flexibility, and choice count clarity.
• Foster high performance — building talent, deepening product expertise, and enabling a culture of accountability and empowerment.
• Ensure strategic alignment between brand storytelling and commercial objectives.

Business Growth & Results

• Own total merchandising financial performance: topline revenue, IMU, inventory health, and category productivity.
• Identify whitespace opportunities: new icons, end uses, and product initiatives that unlock incremental growth.
• Drive performance with a test-and-learn mindset and strong clarity of action.

Benefits

• You will be eligible to receive a merchandise discount at select KnitWell Group brands, subject to each brand’s discount policies.
• Support for your individual development plus opportunities for career mobility within our family of brands.
• A culture of giving back – local volunteer opportunities, annual donation and volunteer match to eligible nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic activities to support our communities.*
• Medical, dental, vision insurance & 401(K).*
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Time off – paid time off & holidays.*
• The wage range for this position is $160K to $180K. Successful candidates’ wage rates will be determined based on their individual qualifications for the position.*
• Any job offer will consider factors such your qualifications, relevant experience, and skills. Eligibility of certain benefits and associate programs are subject to employment type and role.

Reporting: Reports to the Vice President of Merchandising and leads a highly collaborative and high-performing merchandising team.

Location: Based in Talbots’ Hingham, MA Corporate Office. New York-based commuting arrangement is a consideration, provided an on-site commitment is demonstrated. Travel is required to the New York Design Office approximately every 4 to 6 weeks. Domestic travel for Inspiration is required.

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Equal Employment Opportunity

The Company is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates. Hiring decisions are based upon a candidate's qualifications as they relate to the requirements of the position under consideration and are made without regard to sex (including pregnancy), race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other category protected by applicable law. The Company is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation to perform the essential duties of the position you are seeking or to participate in the application process, please contact myHRSupport@knitwellgroup.com. The Company will make reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified applicants or employees, unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on the operations of the Company’s business. The Company will not revoke or alter a job offer based on an applicant’s request for reasonable accommodation.