Head of Merchandising, Athleta

About Athleta

For the past 25 years, we’ve committed ourselves and our brand to a single aim: to empower all women and girls. Inspiration. Collaboration. Connection. Inclusivity. It’s what we do best, and we’re on the hunt for people who share our passion for leading an active lifestyle, growing personally as well as professionally, and creating game-changing products and experiences. 

We use business as a force for good by putting people and the planet right up there with profit, which is why Athleta is a certified B Corp. Ready to make a move? Join us. Because we know that alone we’re strong, but together we’re unstoppable.

About the Role

The Head of Merchandising for Athleta leads the brand’s merchandising organization, driving strategic product vision, commercial performance, and customer engagement across all channels. This role is pivotal in delivering on Athleta’s purpose of inspiring women and girls to build confidence, strength, and belonging through movement.

Reporting directly to the Athleta Brand President & CEO, the Head of Merchandising is a key member of the Athleta Leadership Team and oversees assortment strategy, category management, and visual presentation. This leader drives product innovation, price and value leadership, and alignment across design, marketing, and inventory planning to deliver profitable growth and a differentiated brand experience.

The Head of Merchandising builds and inspires a high-performing team that operates with agility, accountability, and creativity. By fostering a culture grounded in inclusion, empowerment, and innovation, this leader ensures Athleta delivers compelling, purpose-driven product assortments that unite performance, style, and sustainability.

At Athleta, how we reach our results is just as important as the results themselves. This leader models our values-based leadership behaviors, ensuring that teams operate with integrity, collaboration, and shared success.

Salary Range: $330,000 - $420,000 USD
Employee pay will vary based on factors such as qualifications, experience, skill level, competencies and work location. We will meet minimum wage or minimum of the pay range (whichever is higher) based on city, county and state requirements.

What You'll Do

• Lead and evolve Athleta’s merchandising strategy to deliver innovation, brand distinction, and commercial success.
• Develop and execute a multi-year product and merchandising roadmap that accelerates growth and differentiation in alignment to brand goals.
• Leverage customer, trend, and market insights to inform long-range product and merchandising strategies, balancing performance, lifestyle, and seasonal relevance.
• Lead with modern aesthetic intelligence to shape Athleta’s product expression and define an elevated, authoritative point of view that strengthens market distinction and inspires the customer.
• Partner with Design, Digital, Marketing, and Stores to deliver cohesive product stories and omni-channel experiences, championing innovation in fabric, fit, and unique solutioning for women.
• Balance operational discipline with agility and scalability in responding to business trends.
• Provide clear cross-functional leadership and direction to ensure that smart product risks are being taken to drive the brand forward, connecting these decisions to the customer journey across channels.
• Drive a high-performance culture that celebrates inclusivity, accountability, and motivates and inspires teams to deliver beyond expected results. 
• Champion continuous improvement and innovation, leveraging technology, insights, and best practices to optimize performance.
• Build and sustain a strong, diverse, and inspired merchandising organization through intentional leadership, mentorship, and succession planning.
• Collaborate across the Athleta and Gap Inc. ecosystem to ensure the right tools, processes, and insights enable success.
• Measure and assess business initiatives, adapting as needed to deliver sustainable results.

Who You Are

• 15+ years of progressive merchandising and product leadership experience in multi-channel retail environments.
• Proven success driving growth through customer-centered product and assortment strategies.
• Strong analytical and creative acumen with deep understanding of consumer insights, trends, and financial metrics.
• Demonstrated success leading transformation and scaling complex product organizations.
• Ability to connect brand purpose with commercial strategy and execution.
• Experience developing diverse, high-performing teams through coaching, mentorship, and inclusive leadership.
• Strong ability to build alignment and trust across cross-functional and corporate partners.
• Openness to feedback, curiosity about new ideas, and ability to translate insights into action.

Benefits at Athleta

• Merchandise discount for our brands: 50% off regular-priced merchandise at Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta, and 30% off at Outlet for all employees.
• One of the most competitive Paid Time Off plans in the industry.*
• Employees can take up to five “on the clock” hours each month to volunteer at a charity of their choice.*
• Extensive 401(k) plan with company matching for contributions up to four percent of an employee’s base pay.*
• Employee stock purchase plan.*
• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance.*
• See more of the benefits we offer.

*For eligible employees