Chanel Head of Merchandising
- Compensation
- $165,000–172,000/year
- Department
- Merchandising, Buying & Planning
- Industry
- Fashion, Apparel & Leather Goods
- Posted
- Sep 22, 2026
About Chanel
Chanel is one of the world’s most revered luxury houses, founded by Gabrielle Chanel and distinguished by an enduring vision of elegance, freedom, and modernity. As an employer, the House brings together métiers ranging from haute couture, fashion and leather goods to fragrance, beauty, watches, and fine jewelry, offering employees the opportunity to contribute to a legacy defined by exceptional craftsmanship and creative audacity. Chanel values excellence, discretion, collaboration, and long-term development, fostering an environment where talent is nurtured and heritage is continually reinterpreted for contemporary clients. Its teams are united by a commitment to quality, innovation, and the timeless spirit of the brand.
Head of Merchandising at Chanel Canada, Toronto. Lead luxury fashion merchandising strategy with CAD 165k–172k annual salary plus bonus.
Role & Responsibilities
- Develop, deliver, and implement product strategy aligned with global brand values and local growth objectives, ensuring boutique-specific adaptation and balanced assortments
- Define and execute merchandising strategy across Canadian markets, ensuring product assortment reflects the brand's vision while protecting client experience and maximizing commercial performance
- Support Finance and Fashion Director with sales forecasting and strategic planning, defining and managing open-to-buy budgets in collaboration with financial partners
- Ensure stock KPIs are met across the business to achieve sales targets and maximize sales opportunities, overseeing all reporting and analysis related to product and sales performance
- Collaborate with Boutique Directors and local teams to adapt product strategies to market needs, ensuring appropriate product mix, stock allocation, and consistent brand messaging per location
- Lead and align cross-functional initiatives with Retail, Training, and Visual Merchandising to maximize product opportunities and support local launches and events
- Build, coach, and develop a high-performing team, continually advancing professional skills to drive efficiency, clarity, and innovative thinking
- Represent merchandising needs in operational and IT projects, driving efficiencies and improved tools and processes across the business
- Maintain a strong awareness of competitor positioning and market trends, sharing insights to inform product and sales strategies
- Gain a deep understanding of business and market needs, providing feedback to regional partners and participating in business review meetings
- Manage critical paths and project plans to ensure alignment, timely execution, and clear team responsibilities
Qualifications
- 8 to 10 years of merchandising or buying experience within luxury fashion retail
- Significant experience participating in global buying sessions
- Experience working with international headquarters and cross-cultural teams
- Extensive experience across all merchandising activities
- Passionate about product and brand
- Highly collaborative, adaptable, and proactive
- Strong sense of ownership and accountability
- Inclusive and open-minded leadership approach
- Inspiring presence with ability to energize teams and drive creative transitions
Skills
Experience
8 to 10 years of merchandising or buying experience within luxury fashion retail, with significant participation in global buying sessions and demonstrated success working with international headquarters and cross-cultural teams. Extensive background across all merchandising activities, including product assortment planning, inventory management, and sales strategy alignment.
Workplace
The role is situated in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from CAD 165,000 to CAD 172,000 per annum.
Benefits
Private medical and dental insurance, long-term disability coverage, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, company pension plan, bonus program, generous vacation days, sick leave, volunteering (CSR) days, birthday day off, robust global parental leave policy, 24/7 Employee Assistance Program including counseling and financial guidance, professional development opportunities including mentorship programs and career advancement
Culture
Chanel fosters a culture of timeless creativity, exacting craftsmanship, and quiet excellence, where employees are encouraged to uphold the house’s heritage while contributing to its continued innovation. The workplace environment is refined, collaborative, and deeply committed to quality, offering professionals the opportunity to grow within a globally respected maison that values discretion, artistry, and long-term vision.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Chanel, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Head of Buying and Merchandising», «Merchandising Director», «Vice President of Product Strategy», «Senior Merchandising Manager», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.