Merchandise Operations [AQ-13637]

Internal Job Title: Lead Sport Merchant – Kids Apparel (Interim – Parental Leave) 

 

Our client, a global leader in athletic footwear and retail, is seeking a driven Category Merchant to join their regional Kids Apparel team. In this role, you will focus on consumer insights, assortment planning, Go-to-Market (GTM) execution, and product line management. You will serve as a key bridge between global product strategy and regional marketplace execution, ensuring retail assortments deliver clear market differentiation, drive incremental revenue growth, and resonate directly with regional consumers.

 

This is a 6-months fixed term salaried position contracted via Aquent on behalf of our client as a third party. There is the possibility for extension. The role offers €47.4K – 52.5K (pro rata), based on experience – 40 hrs/week. 

Due to the contracting nature of this role, only candidates with unrestricted rights to work in The Netherlands will be considered. 

 

Key Responsibilities:

• Consumer-Led Assortment Strategy: Translate consumer insights and market trends into relevant product line plans that meet regional marketplace needs and deliver a clear vision for the Kids Apparel division.

• Go-to-Market (GTM) Execution: Lead merchandising inputs across key seasonal milestones from initial line planning through to final seasonal line sign-offs ensuring alignment, cross-functional clarity, and operational execution.

• Product Storytelling & Regional Alignment: Represent regional market requirements in global product forums to influence product strategy, delivery flow, storytelling priorities, and product investment decisions.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Channel Merchandising, Sport Planning, and Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Merchandising teams to align product needs, regional assortments, market capacity, and franchise management plans.

• Merchandising Operations: Oversee core operational deliverables including line adoption, regional pricing setup, product attribute tagging, sample order management, and launch product readiness.

 

Requirements:

• Professional Experience: 2–4 years of directly relevant merchandising, product line management, or assortment planning experience within the retail, consumer goods, or apparel industry 

• Consumer-Centric Vision: Strong ability to translate market insights into actionable product line opportunities and compelling storytelling.

• Commercial & Strategic Acumen: Proven experience managing product line planning, pricing strategies, product placement, and inventory distribution across varied retail channels.

• Stakeholder Management: Demonstrated capability to collaborate with and influence cross-functional teams across regional and global structures.

 

Client Description

A global retailer of sportswear and innovation, our client’s Amsterdam hub drives initiatives that push the limits of creativity and performance. It is more than just a brand—it’s a place where individuals with passion, vision, and ambition can thrive. They empower their employees to explore potential and bring their unique skills to a dynamic, ever-evolving environment to redefine possibilities in sport, fashion, and technology.

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Aquent is dedicated to improving inclusivity & is proudly an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications from under-represented groups & are committed to providing support to applicants with disabilities. We aim to provide reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, to those with a medical condition, disability or neurodivergence.

 

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