Director, Trade Merchandising, North America

About Us 

SharkNinja is a global product design and technology company, with a diversified portfolio of 5-star rated lifestyle solutions that positively impact people’s lives in homes around the world. Powered by two trusted, global brands, Shark and Ninja, the company has a proven track record of bringing disruptive innovation to market, and developing one consumer product after another has allowed SharkNinja to enter multiple product categories, driving significant growth and market share gains. Headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts with more than 3,600+ associates, the company’s products are sold at key retailers, online and offline, and through distributors around the world.  

The Director of Trade Merchandising – North America is a key leadership role responsible for driving the strategic vision, planning, and execution of all in-store merchandising initiatives across the U.S. and Canadian retail landscape. The Director, Trade Merchandising role leads the development and implementation of customer-specific merchandising programs that enhance brand visibility, maximize retail presence, and accelerate conversion at the point of sale. 

Working closely with cross-functional teams - including Sales, Global Retail Excellence, Marketing, Creative, and Supply Chain - as well as with major retail partners, the Director, Trade Merchandising will lead a team responsible for creating differentiated and scalable merchandising solutions across channels including mass, club, specialty and home centers. As the Director, Trade Merchandising, you will bring a deep understanding of trade marketing dynamics, retail operations, and consumer behavior across North America. 

Key Responsibilities:

Merchandising Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and lead the North American trade merchandising strategy aligned with brand, commercial, and retailer-specific objectives. 
• Translate brand campaigns into in-store experiences that drive incremental sales and long-term brand equity. 
• Lead the development of merchandising programs for both innovation launches and core SKUs, with focus on impact and scalability. 
• Serve as the internal subject matter expert on in-store conversion and merchandising best practices across all North American retail channels.

Regional & Retailer Partnership Management

• Serve as the key merchandising liaison with top national and regional retailers across the U.S. and Canada. 
• Partner with sales teams to pitch and secure incremental in-store opportunities, including off-shelf displays, seasonal placements, and endcap takeovers. 
• Build collaborative partnerships with retailer marketing teams to co-develop merchandising programs. 
• Conduct regular field visits and retail audits to assess execution, gain competitive insights, and identify improvement opportunities. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with brand and marketing teams to ensure alignment between national campaigns and in-store execution. 
• Collaborate with Global Retail Excellence team to ensure flawless execution of merchandising programs across regions. 

Budget & Vendor Management

• Own and manage the North American trade merchandising budget, ensuring efficient use of resources and strong ROI. 
• Lead agency and vendor relationships to produce and distribute merchandising materials, including negotiating contracts and service-level agreements. 
• Ensure compliance with retail guidelines and operational execution within all merchandising programs. 

Measurement, Analytics & Optimization

• Define KPIs and track performance of merchandising activities against commercial and brand goals. 
• Leverage sales data, shopper insights, and post-program analysis to optimize future initiatives. 
• Build and present quarterly reports to senior leadership highlighting program impact, trends, and key opportunities. 

Team Leadership & Development

• Build and lead a high-performing merchandising team with a focus on strategic thinking, operational excellence, and cross-functional collaboration. 
• Foster a performance-driven culture with clear accountability and professional development opportunities. 

Qualifications & Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, or related field required; MBA preferred 
• 15+ years of experience in trade marketing, retail merchandising, or CPG sales with progressive leadership responsibility
• Proven success in leading merchandising programs across North American markets, including both the U.S. and Canada
• Experience partnering with major North American retailers (e.g., Walmart, Target, Costco, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowes, CTC, Sephora, Ulta etc.)
• Deep understanding of retail environments, shopper behavior, and merchandising strategies
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management abilities
• Data-driven with proven experience in performance measurement and ROI optimization
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with retail execution platforms and merchandising software tools 
• Strategic, visionary thinker with a hands-on approach to execution
• Agile and adaptable in a fast-paced, evolving market
• Strong collaborator and influencer, both internally and externally
• Results-oriented with a passion for retail excellence

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