Merchandise & Retail Manager – USL Soccer Club
Position Summary
The Merchandise & Retail Manager will lead all retail and merchandise operations for the club, driving revenue growth, enhancing the fan experience, and building a strong, community-connected brand through compelling product offerings.
This role oversees all sales channels — including matchday retail, team store operations, e-commerce, and wholesale — while managing inventory, vendor relationships, and retail staff. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who combines business strategy, creative merchandising, and community engagement to turn retail into a key profit center for the club.
Key Responsibilities
Retail Operations & Matchday Execution
- Lead all in-stadium retail operations, including staffing, setup, and sales execution
- Ensure efficient point-of-sale operations to minimize lines and maximize revenue per fan
- Oversee visual merchandising to deliver a best-in-class fan shopping experience
- Manage day-to-day team store operations and e-commerce fulfillment
E-commerce Strategy
- Manage and optimize the club’s online store (e.g., Shopify)
- Ensure alignment across in-stadium, online, and wholesale inventory and pricing
- Coordinate product launches, promotions, and campaigns with the marketing team
- Drive growth in online sales, conversion rate, and customer experience
Merchandising, Buying & Inventory Management
- Lead product assortment planning across jerseys, training gear, lifestyle apparel, and collectibles
- Develop seasonal buying strategies aligned with match schedule, key moments, and community events
- Forecast demand and manage inventory to minimize stockouts and excess
- Analyze sales trends and performance to inform purchasing decisions and pricing strategies
- Manage open-to-buy and inventory turnover to maximize margin
Strategic Leadership & Financial Performance
- Develop and execute annual retail sales plans across all channels
- Own merchandise revenue goals and track performance against KPIs
- Monitor margins, pricing strategies, and cost controls
- Deliver regular reporting on sales, inventory, and trends
- Build a data-driven retail strategy using POS insights and fan behavior
Vendor & Partner Management
- Manage relationships with apparel providers, manufacturers, licensees, and local vendors
- Negotiate pricing, timelines, and exclusive product opportunities
- Ensure timely delivery of merchandise, especially ahead of season launches and key matches
- Develop co-branded products and retail partnerships with sponsors and local businesses
Team Leadership & Operations
- Hire, train, and manage a high-performing retail staff (matchday + full-time)
- Create a culture of accountability, sales performance, and exceptional customer service
- Oversee scheduling, staffing plans, and operational efficiency
- Lead continuous improvement across retail operations
Brand & Community Engagement
- Collaborate with marketing to create unique, locally relevant merchandise
- Execute retail activations tied to matches, events, and community initiatives
- Support festivals, partnerships, and fan engagement opportunities through merchandise
- Ensure all retail touchpoints reflect the club’s identity and culture
Qualifications
- 3–5+ years (or 5+ preferred) experience in retail, merchandising, or e-commerce
- Experience in sports, apparel, or lifestyle brands strongly preferred
- Proven ability to drive retail growth across multiple sales channels
- Strong understanding of inventory management, merchandising analytics, and POS systems
- Experience managing staff in high-traffic or event-based environments
- Proficiency with e-commerce platforms (e.g., Shopify)
- Excellent leadership, organization, and communication skills
- Ability to work nights, weekends, and all home matches
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Total merchandise revenue & revenue per capita
- Gross margin performance
- Inventory turnover rate
- E-commerce growth & conversion rate
- Matchday transaction speed & customer satisfaction
- Sell-through rate on key product lines
What Success Looks Like
- Significant growth in merchandise revenue across all channels
- Seamless, high-energy matchday retail experience
- Strong product sell-through with minimal excess inventory
- A recognizable, community-driven merchandise identity
- Retail established as a core revenue driver for the club
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.
