Senior Group Director, Shoes
About the role CHANEL is looking for a Senior Group Director, Shoes to join our Merchandising Team in New York, New York. You will own the end‑to‑end merchandising vision and category leadership for Shoes in the U.S., establishing the strategy and driving a unique, client‑centric assortment for all U.S. boutiques and Multi‑Brand Retail Partners. This role is accountable for category performance, commercial outcomes, and the development of high‑performing teams—ensuring Chanel’s continued leadership in the American luxury market. You will provide strategic support to the Head of Merchandising and Fashion Business Planning, U.S., serving as a thought partner and executional leader, and will be responsible for developing and inspiring the Shoes merchandising team. Strategic Leadership Define and execute the U.S. merchandising strategy for Shoes, ensuring it reflects both Chanel’s creative vision and the unique needs of the dynamic American market. Own category performance, setting business objectives and commercial targets. Support the Head of Merchandising and Fashion Business Planning in driving the overall category vision, strategic planning, and business performance. Build strong relationships with multi‑brand retail leadership to stay closely connected and receive ongoing updates on changes to their shoe‑floor matrix and capture competitive and client insights. Partner with global counterparts to align on collection vision while tailoring assortments and strategies for the U.S. client. Identify opportunities and risks in the U.S. market and recommend strategies to drive growth, client acquisition, and retention. Support setting the U.S. pricing strategy for shoes and play a key role in the approach. Product & Assortment Lead the team to build seasonal assortments that represent collection allure and support each location’s specificities and clients’ needs. Monitor category and assortment performance, adjusting buying strategies and influencing pricing to maximize sales, inventory efficiency, and long‑term category health. Identify and capitalize on market opportunities, competitive insights, and client trends to drive growth, client acquisition, and retention. Leverage U.S. client insights, CRM data, and retail feedback with global merchandising to inform product journeys, assortment architecture, and lifecycle management. Front‑Runner of Fashion & Industry Trends Serve as a thought leader in the U.S. luxury landscape, identifying shifts in client behavior, cultural moments, and fashion trends. Translate these insights into assortment strategies, ensuring Chanel remains the leader in the U.S. market for fashion and desirability. Represent the U.S. voice in global forums, ensuring regional perspectives influence shoes’ product evolution. Ensure the Shoes offering enhances the client experience across U.S. boutiques, Department Stores and all client‑facing events. Leadership & Team Development Lead and develop the U.S. Shoes merchandising team, fostering growth, collaboration, and a culture of excellence. Shape team architecture to support growth and transformation. Champion talent development, individual mentorship, and succession planning, ensuring the team’s capabilities and structure support long‑term business and organizational needs. Serve as a cultural ambassador, inspiring teams with Chanel’s heritage, creativity, and client‑first philosophy. Drive efficiency and process improvement through challenging the status quo and collaboration. Retail & Business Excellence Partner with U.S. Retail, Visual Merchandising, and Fashion Expertise teams to ensure storytelling and execution that protect brand equity. Lead regular Business Reviews with MBR partners and drive decisions that have wide‑reaching impact across distribution, sales, assortment, and client journey. Track key business metrics and lead action plans to optimize results. Work closely with Supply Chain and Merch Planning to ensure the right products reach the right markets at the right time. You are energized by Passionate about Fashion – deeply connected to the world of fashion and craftsmanship, bringing enthusiasm, curiosity and innovation while respecting the codes of the house. Visionary & Strategic – see both the big picture and the fine details, shaping strategies while executing flawlessly in the moment. Client‑Obsessed – have a deep curiosity about the U.S. luxury client and make decisions that put their needs, desires and experiences at the center. Innovative & Trend‑Aware – anticipate market and cultural shifts, translating them into forward‑thinking merchandising strategies. Collaborative & Influential – thrive in cross‑functional partnerships, inspiring and aligning diverse teams toward shared goals. Analytical & Decisive – balance intuition with data, using insights to drive informed business decisions and corrective actions. Resilient & Adaptable – excel in ambiguity, embrace change, and remain composed under pressure while leading teams through evolving priorities. People Leader – nurture talent, develop high‑performing teams, and embody Chanel’s culture of respect, excellence and creativity. What you will bring to the team 12 years of experience in luxury merchandising, with strong expertise in Shoes and deep knowledge of the U.S. luxury fashion market. Proven ability to adapt global strategies to local market needs and drive commercial performance. Strong analytical and financial acumen, with experience managing P&L responsibilities. Excellent leadership and communication skills, with experience leading high‑performing teams. Deep understanding of U.S. luxury clients, trends, and competitive landscape. Up to 25% regular travel (international and domestic). Bachelor’s Degree required; MBA a plus. Compensation The anticipated base salary range for this position is $175,000 through $225,000, component of the total compensation for this position. Other forms of variable pay may be offered for this position. Other components may include bonus potential, benefits, and/or perks. Benefits and Perks Wellbeing resources including dedicated paid time off for wellbeing, a 2‑week August Office Closure and a Wellbeing fund. Family and caregiving benefits (parental leave, fertility support, MilkStork, and Care.com Membership). Generous paid time off policies to include vacation, holiday, sick and volunteer days. 401K and other incentives. Robust healthcare offerings: medical, dental, vision, MDLIVE (virtual care), One Medical, Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care & Dependent Care), Health Savings Account and Employee Assistance Program. Life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment, short‑term and long‑term disability, health advocate, international business travel accident & medical, and commuter transit & parking. Diversity and Inclusion At CHANEL, we are intentional in promoting Diversity & Inclusion. We foster respect, empathy and dignity for all and believe the diversity of our people across the full spectrum of human differences is essential to our organisation and to the connections we have with each other and our clients. We offer Employee Resource Groups in the US that are voluntary, open to all, employee‑led groups formed around a shared identity or lived experience, whose aim is to foster a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community aligned with the values and missions of the communities they support. 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