Senior Merchant

CatFace is a leading merchandise and digital entertainment company behind the wildly popular YouTube channel “Aphmau,” a top MINECRAFT creator with over 25 million subscribers and an average of 350 million monthly views. In addition to its massive online presence, CatFace is also the creator of the beloved “MeeMeows” line of cat plushies and related merchandise, available at major retailers including Walmart, Target, Amazon, Claire’s, and more.

Visit our YouTube Channels:
https://www.youtube.com/aphmaugaming  

Visit our websites: 

• www.aphmeow.com  
• www.catface.com  

Our socials:
Instagram: @aphmeow_store 

About the Job

We’re looking for an experienced, execution-minded merchandising leader to act as the right hand to the Director of Merchandising. This role requires someone with deep product lifecycle knowledge, proven cross-functional leadership, and the confidence to drive strategy when the Director is unavailable.

The Senior Merchant will co-own product development, vendor management, and go-to-market execution while supporting creative expansion and convention-based activations. This role is both strategic and operational—and critical to succession planning within the team.

What You'll Do

• Own a key category or collection from end to end—including strategy, product briefs, and seasonal rollouts
• Serve as second-in-command to the Director; act as escalation point and decision-maker in their absence
• Mentor and guide Team of Artists, Operations and Production team members; hold team accountable to clear deliverables
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Art, Production, Marketing, and Web Visuals to ensure flawless execution.
• Partner with the Director on long-range planning, new category launches, and conventional merchandising strategy
• Lead vendor communication and manage sourcing timelines and cost negotiations.
• Monitor performance metrics (e.g., IMU, sell-through, margin), adjusting as needed for inventory and sales goals
• Ensure all merchandise aligns with creative direction and financial objectives
• Troubleshoot pipeline challenges, resolve production issues, and proactively remove bottlenecks
• Champion a culture of accountability, clarity, and results across the merchandising team

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years' experience in merchandising, product development, or category ownership (retail or DTC preferred)
• Proven experience managing seasonal calendars, go-to-market timelines, and product strategies
• A strong understanding of creative and commercial product development—how to build what's right and what sells
• Experience managing direct reports and mentoring junior team members
• Excellent cross-functional communication skills
• Ability to make confident decisions, lead in ambiguity, and move projects forward without micro-management
• High ownership mentality and track record of follow-through
• Comfort jumping between strategy and execution—this is a hands-on leadership role
• Bonus: Experience with conventional merchandising, limited drops 

What We Offer

• Excellent Medical, Dental and Vision health benefits
• 401(k) contribution
• Flexible time off
• Lunch, snacks and drinks provided in the office
• Pets in the office once a month
• Onsite fitness center
• Learning Stipend
• Relocation assistance for those coming from outside Austin.