Summary

The Director of Merchandise is responsible for leading the strategic planning, development, and execution of all retail and merchandise operations for the Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bandits and live event concerts hosted at KeyBank Center.  This role oversees all facets of merchandise strategy – including buying, inventory management, visual merchandising, e-commerce, licensing, and in-venue retail execution – to drive revenue, enhance the fan experience, and strengthen each brand’s identity. 

Duties & Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive merchandise strategy across all teams and events, optimizing sales performance and fan engagement
  • Establish annual merchandise revenue goals, budgets, and performance metrics
  • Identify growth opportunities in both physical and digital retail channels
  • Collaborate with NHL, NLL, and league partners on officially licensed product initiatives and compliance
• Retail Operations & Sales Management
  • Oversee all retail locations within KeyBank Center, including team stores, pop-up shops, kiosks, and mobile retail units
  • Manage game-day and event-day retail operations for the Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bandits, and live concert events
  • Ensure proper staffing, training, and scheduling of retail teams for efficient and high-quality service
  • Partner with ticketing and marketing to develop promotional retail initiatives, fan giveaways, and cross-promotional campaigns
• Buying, Product Development & Vendor Relations
  • Lead seasonal buying plans and product selection that reflect current trends and fan preferences
  • Collaborate with designers and vendors to create exclusive team and event merchandise, limited editions, and co-branded products
  • Negotiate contracts with vendors and licensing partners to maximize margins and maintain quality standards
  • Coordinate with league partners (NHL/NLL) and major suppliers (Fanatics, Adidas, Nike, New Era) to ensure product alignment and timely delivery
• E-Commerce & Digital Retail
  • Oversee the online retail presence for both the Sabres and Bandits, ensuring seamless integration with marketing campaigns and fan engagement initiatives
  • Implement digital merchandising strategies, including data-driven product recommendations, email campaigns, and special online drops
  • Monitor analytics to optimize online sales performance and user experience
• Visual Merchandising & Brand Standards
  • Uphold consistent brand presentation across all retail environments and product lines
  • Design engaging in-store and event-specific merchandising layouts that enhance the fan experience and drive conversion
• Leadership & Team Development
  • Supervise and mentor retail management and staff, promoting a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement
  • Recruit, train and evaluate employees to ensure operational excellence and superior customer service
• Perform other duties and tasks as assigned

Minimum Qualifications for the Position:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Retail Management or related field preferred
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in retail or merchandise management, preferably in professional sports, entertainment or large-scale live events
• Excellent negotiation, budgeting and analytical skills
• Proven success leading retail operations with multimillion-dollar revenue targets
• Proficiency in retail management software, POS systems and e-commerce platforms
• Exceptional communication and organizational skills
• Ability to work non-traditional hours including nights, weekends, and holidays

Critical Competencies

• Building Collaborate Relationships – the ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside and outside of the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support.
• Developing Others – willingness to delegate responsibility and to work with others and coach them to develop their capabilities.
• Empowering Others – conveying confidence in employees’ ability to be successful, especially at challenging new tasks.
• Fostering Teamwork – as a team member, the ability and desire to work cooperatively with others on a team; as a team leader, interest, sill, and success in getting groups to work together cooperatively.

Compensation

This role will pay an annual salary of $90,000 - $135,000.   Note: Wages will be determined based on factors such as candidate experience, qualifications, skill set and internal equity.

Benefits & Incentives

• Medical Plans: Comprehensive and affordable medical plans; supplemental vision care, dental care, life insurance coverage, fully paid, short and long-term disability and life insurance coverage.
• Investments: 401(k) with employer matching; annual discretionary defined employer contributions
• Paid Time Off:  Paid Volunteer Days
• Sabres Experience: (up to 4) Comp tickets to Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bandits, Rochester Americans when available
• Wellness: Annual Health & Wellness fair, monthly wellness initiatives including but not limited to lunch & learns, fitness classes and challenges.
• Sabres Family: many annual social events for employees and their families to enjoy, including various holiday parties and activities. DEI committee with annual initiatives, ERG (Employee Resource Groups), Community Volunteer opportunities and more.

Hockey Western New York, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.