Merchandise & Apparel Manager

At Link Snacks, we show up hungry, roll up our sleeves, plaid or otherwise, and dive straight into the hard work. We don’t hide from challenges; we hunt them down. We push harder, move faster, and take the kinds of big swings that built this business in the North Woods of Wisconsin four decades ago.

We’re everyday people who deliver extraordinary results. Innovation, creativity, and urgency aren’t buzzwords, they’re expectations. And just like the real protein snacks we make across our global house of brands—Jack Link’s®, Lorissa’s Kitchen®, Golden Island®, BiFi®, and Peperami® and KOOEE!® to name a few—there’s nothing artificial about us. What you see is exactly what you get: humble, gritty, passionate people who show up every day ready to not just be a participate in the meat snack industry that the Link Family created, but to move faster, innovate harder and keep raising the bar so high, the rest of the world needs a ladder just to see it.

Dominating this space across the world takes a team. A team that runs together, succeeds together, and celebrates together. A team that’s full of relentless energy and spirit that can only be fueled by one thing: a fist full of our delicious meat snacks.

Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks.

The Merchandise & Apparel Manager is responsible for executing Jack Link's branded apparel and merchandise strategy through product development, vendor management, inventory planning, ecommerce support, and launch execution. This role serves as the operational backbone of the wearables business, ensuring products move efficiently from concept to customer while maintaining brand standards, quality expectations, and financial objectives.

Working closely with the Senior Manager, Branded Apparel & Merchandise, this position will manage day-to-day merchandising activities, support seasonal product launches and limited-edition drops, coordinate vendor relationships, and oversee internal and external merchandise programs.

This role requires a blend of project management, merchandising, sourcing, and operational expertise, along with a passion for consumer products, lifestyle brands, and brand storytelling.

Merchandise Planning & Product Development

• Support development and execution of seasonal merchandise assortments and limited-edition product drops.
• Manage product lifecycle from concept through production, fulfillment, and post-launch analysis.
• Coordinate product specifications, artwork approvals, samples, and production timelines.
• Track trends in apparel, accessories, and promotional merchandise to identify new product opportunities.
• Assist with assortment planning and SKU rationalization.

Vendor & Sourcing Management

• Manage day-to-day relationships with apparel, accessory, and promotional merchandise vendors.
• Obtain product quotes, negotiate pricing, and manage purchase orders.
• Coordinate product sampling, quality reviews, and vendor performance evaluations.
• Monitor production schedules and proactively address delays or quality concerns.
• Support sourcing initiatives focused on cost optimization and speed-to-market.

Ecommerce & Launch Execution

• Coordinate product setup and launch readiness for ecommerce platforms.
• Maintain product information, descriptions, pricing, and imagery.
• Support execution of merchandise drops, promotional campaigns, and product launches.
• Partner with Marketing, Creative, and Social teams to ensure launch assets are delivered on schedule.
• Track launch performance and recommend improvements.

Inventory & Operations Management

• Manage inventory levels and replenishment planning across merchandise categories.
• Monitor inventory performance, sell-through rates, and aging inventory.
• Support forecasting efforts and demand planning activities.
• Coordinate fulfillment and distribution activities with internal and external partners.
• Ensure operational processes support profitability and customer satisfaction.

Internal Merchandise Programs

• Manage internal team-member apparel and merchandise ordering programs.
• Coordinate branded merchandise needs for events, trade shows, recruiting, sponsorships, and corporate initiatives.
• Partner with HR, Sales, Marketing, and Leadership teams to fulfill merchandise requests efficiently.

Analytics & Reporting

• Track merchandise sales, inventory performance, margins, and promotional effectiveness.
• Prepare weekly and monthly business performance reports.
• Analyze customer purchasing trends and product performance.
• Provide recommendations to improve profitability, assortment effectiveness, and operational efficiency.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Creative Services on artwork execution and product approvals.
• Collaborate with Integrated Marketing on launch calendars and promotional plans.
• Support retailer, event, sponsorship, and experiential merchandise initiatives.
• Work closely with Finance on forecasting, budgeting, and inventory management.

Other Duties

• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Merchandising, Business, Retail Management, Supply Chain, or related field.
• 6+ years of experience in merchandising, branded merchandise, apparel, retail operations, product development, or ecommerce.
• Experience managing vendors and coordinating product development projects.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and inventory tracking systems.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.

Preferred

• Experience with branded apparel, lifestyle products, or consumer packaged goods.
• Shopify or ecommerce platform experience.
• Merchandise planning or inventory management experience.
• Experience supporting product launches or retail merchandising programs.
• Familiarity with apparel sourcing, decoration methods, and production processes.
• Passion for lifestyle brands, outdoor culture, sports, or consumer products.

The salary range for this role is $125,000 - $145,000 (Annually).  Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Jack Link’s Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Jack Link’s provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

Jack Link’s provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic that is protected by federal, state or local law.

E-VERIFY:

Jack Link’s is a participant in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees.  For information about the E-Verify program, please visit:  http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.



Disclaimer:

This job description is intended to generally describe the nature and level of work to be performed by employees in this position. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and skills required of employees performing this role.