Retail Outlets Merchandising Lead Europe

Retail Outlets Merchandising Lead Europe

Levi Strauss & Co.

Ixelles, Belgium

About the role

As Retail Outlet Merchandising Lead, you’ll shape and execute the merchandising strategy for our Factory Outlet (FO) business across Europe and manage the product selection for North Africa. You’ll combine deep product knowledge, a strong commercial mindset, and a data-driven approach to curate compelling assortments that drive profitability, brand heat, and consumer engagement.

Partnering closely with cross-functional teams, including merchandising, planning, marketing, retail operations, asset recovery, and visual merchandising — you’ll ensure the outlet channel reflects the Levi’s® brand promise while meeting the needs of value-conscious consumers. Reporting to the VP Merchandising Europe, you’ll play a critical role in executing our Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) and “Execute with Impact” strategies, balancing seasonal newness with commercial relevance, while closely monitoring performance and adapting as needed.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead assortment and seasonal product strategies for Factory Outlet Europe and North Africa, with a focus on profitable growth and strong brand storytelling;
• Define key item and monthly product strategies that balance core and newness, aligned with seasonal Big Ideas and SBP (Strategic Business Plan) priorities;
• Build assortments by store type and grading, ensuring alignment with product strategy and pricing across channels;
• Collaborate on pricing strategies to maintain competitiveness and profitability, ensuring clear market positioning versus mainline stores;
• Be the voice of the consumer – using data, trends, KPIs, and store feedback to inform product selections and identify market opportunities;
• Own FO product briefs and initiate local development when needed;
• Monitor performance weekly (sell-out, ROS, sell-through) and drive in-season actions in partnership with the trading team;
• Support inventory optimisation and left-to-sell reduction efforts without compromising brand equity;
• Partner with cross-functional teams (planning, marketing, VM/BX) to bring assortments to life in-store;
• Execute go-to-market strategies in alignment with global guidelines;
• Maintain range plans, line plans, directive assortments, PLM data and tools with merchandising ops;
• Present product strategy in internal meetings with confidence, passion, and consistency;
• Stay ahead of outlet market trends, consumer behaviour, and competitor activity to maintain a competitive edge;
• Onboard and mentor junior team members, fostering a high-performing, collaborative culture;
• Regularly visit FO stores (min. once per month) to strengthen market, consumer, and competitor insight;
• Be a strong thought partner to peers, sharing best practices and adapting strategies based on retail KPIs and field feedback.

About you

Education & experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, Fashion Design or a related field (or equivalent experience);
• 5+ years of experience in apparel merchandising, ideally in outlet or off-price retail environments;
• Strong commercial acumen, with a proven ability to drive sales, manage inventory, and deliver profitability;
• Deep knowledge of FO specific dynamics, consumer behaviour, and competitive outlet environments.

Skills & qualities

• Highly analytical with experience in tools like Power BI and Tableau;
• Fluent in English (spoken and written); other languages a plus;
• Strong communication, presentation, and negotiation skills;
• Ability to manage cross-functional collaboration and lead without authority;
• Strategic and consumer-obsessed mindset with a love for product and innovation;
• Experience with VM/BX execution, lifecycle planning, and assortment storytelling;
• Resilient and adaptable, able to thrive in fast-paced, evolving environments;
• Inclusive, collaborative, and team-focused leader who fosters growth in others.

Apply Now