For Nike merchants, everything begins and ends with the consumer! We are looking for a consumerist with an affinity for product who enjoys the energy of moving at the pace of retail and our consumer. A successful Merchant will contribute to an inclusive, positive, and progressive team dynamic. At Nike, it’s about each person bringing skills and passion to a challenging and constantly evolving game. We are looking for a Lead Merchant for General and Department Stores, APLA who will be responsible for creating the Men’s, Women’s, and Kids assortment vision to life across Footwear and Apparel. A successful lead merchant will possess the following skills/experiences: • Merchandising: Experience working in merchandising or retail with footwear and/or apparel, as well as passion for the consumer/marketplace trends. • Collaboration: Ability to partner with Consumer Merchandising, Sales, Planning, and Marketing as well as our territory partners to drive a strategic assortment vision for our diverse marketplace. • Communication: Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills are required to lead/influence product assortments through cross-functional teams. • Team Dynamic: A successful Lead Merchant will thrive and be self-driven to lead this business with autonomy and contribute to an inclusive, positive, and progressive team dynamic and operate in a way that elevates the total team. WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH  You will work closely with fellow merchants and cross-functional teams within global and geo Merchandising, Planning, Allocation, and Brand Marketing. We also work with Finance, Operations and the Insights & Analytics teams; relying on business reporting for your area which includes quantitative and qualitative metrics on sales, inventory and consumer behaviors.   WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR  The Merchandising team understands consumer needs and market opportunities to craft a significant product mix for each marketplace. We blend art with science to bring Nike’s vision to life in all retail environments, leading with our Members and Nike Direct digital and physical spaces and expanding to our retail partners. The team has the unrivaled ability to see beyond trends and identify new market opportunities, delivering the right product, at the right price, in the right place, at the right time.  + Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience  + 5+ years experience in merchandising, product creation, and or retail, in a vertical or wholesale environment  + Footwear, apparel and/or equipment merchandising experience  + Understanding of retail key performance indicators and profit based metrics  + Strong strategy building skills that shape the future of the business  + Effective communicator that collaborates and brings people together  + Provides direction and mentorship to teammates  + Values differences and builds strong relationships with high cultural awareness  + Proven balance of art and science in decision-making   + Self-directed, independent, and dedicated  + Cultivates innovation while also ensuring accountability  + Communicates vision and purpose and able to lead effectively in complex situations  + Solves problems using limited information and implements solutions with the ability to foresee most future implications  + Advises others on complex matters requiring in-depth knowledge or conceptual thinking  + Responds with speed and agility, curiosity, and motivation   WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON  As a Lead Merchant on the Merchandising team, you'll utilize marketplace data, consumer insights, foresight, and hindsight to make decisions, influence and develop seasonal plans to serve our consumer. You'll provide qualitative and quantitative insights to the Product Creation teams, the counterparts on Global Merchandising teams across Fields of Play and gender constructs. You’ll lead the management of our merchandising KPIs through robust analysis of retail insights and performance. You'll build positive and trustworthy relationships with your partners (including Nike One Marketplace Merchants, Marketing, Consumer Planning, and Territory Merchants, among others) to build and land assortments that meet the needs of consumers, take them to a new place, and differentiate the key points of distribution across key cities. You’ll work with your cross-functional team to maintain the optimal balance between a pull and push market.  NIKE, Inc. is committed to employing a diverse workforce. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, protected veteran status, or disability. NIKE is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please call +1 503-671-4156 and let us know the nature of your request, your location and your contact information.