VP Merch DMM - MLB

The Divisional Merchandise Manager (DMM) is a business owner and category strategist. This leader is accountable for defining and executing a compelling merchandising strategy that delivers innovation, drives profitable growth, and deepens emotional connection with fans. The DMM owns our Ecommerce end-to-end assortment strategy — across Fanatics-owned vertical brands and external market vendors — and is responsible for merchandise performance across the Ecommerce network. This role reports into the SVP, Merchandising (GMM) and leads a team of merchants, working in close partnership with Planning, Product Development, Marketing, Supply Chain, Operations and Site Experience to bring the Fanatics vision to life — on time, with clarity, and at scale.

How You Will Make an Impact: 

Category Strategy & Assortment Leadership 

• Define and execute a merchandising strategy that supports Fanatics’ brand and financial goals — spanning Core, Fashion, Seasonal, and Event-Driven (Hot Market) product lifecycles. 
• Build a balanced, fan-first assortment that blends product accessibility with exclusivity — grounded in trend insights, data, and emotional fan connection. 
• Shape the Fanatics point of view in the category: what we stand for, what we offer, and how we differentiate. 
• Own the category’s 'Good, Better, Best' framework and lifecycle plan to ensure clarity across vertical and market brands. 
• Partner closely with Product Development to lead vertical brand strategy and influence the design, positioning, and cadence of Fanatics-owned product. 

Vendor & Market Partner Leadership 

• Serve as the face of Fanatics to key brand partners and vendors — building collaborative relationships that support category growth and exclusivity. 
• Lead negotiations to secure favorable terms, exclusive product access, and long-term scale. 
• Represent Fanatics’ merchandising vision externally, positioning the brand as a category leader and fan-first innovator. 
• Curate the vendor matrix to eliminate redundancy, elevate product storytelling, and optimize productivity. 

Business Performance & Financial Accountability 

• Own divisional financial performance — including sales, gross margin, markdowns, turn, and inventory productivity. 
• Partner with Planning to build receipt plans, drive OTB strategies, and manage in-season performance. 
• Use insights to inform buy depth, exit strategies, pricing actions, and risk mitigation. 
• Build clear business cases for growth investments, always balancing creativity with commercial rigor. 

Team Leadership & Talent Development 

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-impact team of buyers and category merchants — modeling ownership, curiosity, and customer-centric decision-making. 
• Set clear expectations, build strong merchant acumen, and cultivate strategic thinking across the team. 
• Foster a culture of bold leadership, collaboration, and accountability — creating space for diverse perspectives and high performance. 

Champion our BOLD Leadership Principles through your team: 

• Build Championship Teams: Prioritize talent development, clear accountability, and a winning mindset. 
• Obsessed with Fans: Center decisions on delivering incredible value, emotion, and innovation to fans. 
• Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit: Encourage risk-taking, learning agility, and new ideas that challenge the status quo. 
• Determined and Relentless Mindset: Demonstrate urgency, resilience, and an unwavering drive to win. 

Fan Obsession & Market Agility 

• Stay deeply connected to the voice of the fan — leveraging social, trend, and transactional signals to anticipate demand and evolve product direction. 
• Actively monitor the competitive landscape and marketplace dynamics to ensure relevance and speed. 
• Be the category expert across vertical and market brands — understanding trend, brand equity, product architecture, cost of goods, and vendor capabilities. 

What You Bring to the Team

• Deep senior-level experience in Merchandising, with a proven track record of owning category strategy and performance in complex, omnichannel retail environments. 
• Demonstrated leadership of both vertical/private brand and market vendor businesses. 
• Strong financial and operational acumen — confident managing OTB, turn, AUR, and margin levers 
• Strategic thinkers with commercial creativity — able to define a compelling category vision and drive it through execution. 
• Experienced people leader who builds talent, leads through change, and holds high standards. 
• Fan-centric mindset with passion for product, speed, innovation, and culture. 

Where You’Ll Work

This role is based in New York City or Jacksonville, FL 

Travel to key markets, vendors, and industry events as needed. 

Why Fanatics:

At Fanatics, the DMM isn’t just managing a product category — they are shaping the future of fan retail. With unmatched access, vertical capabilities, and a direct line to the fan, you’ll help build an assortment and experience that no one else can offer. 

This is a role for a strategic merchant, team builder, and visionary operator — someone ready to lead boldly and drive lasting impact. 

The salary range for this position is $220,000 to $320,000, which represents base pay only and does not include short-term or long-term incentive compensation. When determining base pay, as part of a final compensation package, we consider several factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and training. 

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.