OPT Merchandise Associate Jobs
Merchandise Associate jobs are a practical fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in retail management, supply chain, or business operations. Most roles involve inventory coordination, product placement, and vendor relations, which align well with standard OPT authorization. Your 12-month OPT window is enough to build meaningful experience, and STEM extension is possible if your degree qualifies.
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Get Access To All JobsLocation: New York, New York, United States of America
Category: Merchandising
Job ID: R60304
widget: Full time
Brand: Calvin Klein
Non-Retail
Be part of an iconic story.
At Calvin Klein, we believe in fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture by celebrating different perspectives, backgrounds and beliefs to truly connect with our associates and consumers. Join us and have a meaningful impact on the world – and – endless opportunities to design your future. Immerse yourself in Calvin Klein here! (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok)
About the Role:
The Planner is responsible for developing, executing and communicating strategic merchandise financial plans for the Calvin Klein Omni-Channel and driving business to meet the division’s financial, merchandising and marketing objectives.
What You'll Do:
Accountabilities:
- Develop, execute, and communicate strategic merchandise financial plans that support the company’s financial, product, and marketing objectives.
- Strategically drive the business in order to maximize sales and margin, and optimize inventory.
- Contribute to the development of Brand initiatives, and ensure that all planning activities support annual goals.
- Create strategic financial plans that support the company’s objectives and brand goals.
- At a Department & Product Segmentation level, develop sales, gross margin, and inventory plans that support the company’s profit objectives. Collaborate with merchandising to ensure that financial objectives align with product opportunities.
- Guide the merchandising team, utilizing historical data and current trends, to capitalize on new opportunities, and identify risks. Communicate opportunities and risks to key business partners including merchandising, finance, marketing, visual, and brand leaders.
- Build and maintain a strategic promotional calendar, in partnership with merchandising and marketing.
- Provide guidance on key/peak weeks.
- Budget: Help build and manage the budget for area of responsibility and ensure we are meeting our sales, GM and inventory targets.
- Decision Making: Must be able to make decisions quickly in an ever-changing environment; partner cross functionally with cross-functional team. Identify risks and opportunities relative to sales trends on product, flow, and presentation.
- Resourcefulness/Creativity: Must be flexible to adapt to changing trends of business and/or ad hoc projects and be detail orientated.
Weekly Business Management:
- Provide updated weekly forecasts to merchandising team detailing category opportunities and risks, recommending markdowns, and reflowing inventory as needed. Ensure that all decisions are based on historical data and/or current trends.
- Present “action points” to cross functional teams and senior management and gain consensus on business.
- Drive strategic pricing decisions with cross functional team to maximize sales and margin.
- Manage seasonal liabilities, inventory by source, and recommend reflow of new deliveries as needed.
Owner of the Open to Buy Process and Meetings:
- Partner with merchandising, visual and marketing to develop 90 day forecast for sales, margin, and inventory.
- Develop analytics to support business approach including source, delivery, and season forecasts.
- Pre-meet with divisional leadership to gain consensus prior to monthly strategic meeting.
- Lead and direct the monthly forecast meeting providing guidance to business leaders and finance. Recommend strategic actions to maximize sales and margin, optimize inventory, and mitigate risk. Collaborate with the field organization, visual, marketing, and other critical partners to ensure execution of strategies.
- Lead the receipt reconciliation process with merchant team. Ensure that on order and committed receipts are delivering in time to support forecasts. Identify risks and drive action plans to manage. Recommend “chasing” or “reflowing” receipts as appropriate.
Pre-Season Planning Process:
- Review historical performance at the department and program item level. Present analysis by source, delivery, and category to merchants to understand prior performance and develop future goals.
- Pre-season create department, category and item plans to support the development of the line.
- Provide receipt plans, margin and IMU goals, and flow strategies to merchants to drive assortment execution.
- Review and reconcile assortments with inventory planners to ensure appropriate breadth and depth, and flawless execution. Provide guidance on store clusters and alpha ranks.
- Lead and facilitate buy finalization meeting with merchant. Present pre-season plans that support new assortment. Identify risks and opportunities relative to product, flow, and presentation. Highlight changes to store groups and distribution strategies relative to last year or prior buys.
- Gain consensus on assortment and plans from senior management. Lock plans seasonally and ensure that any reforecasting of sales, margin, or inventory (based on changes in trends) is reflected as new assortments are delivered.
What You'll Bring:
Experience:
- Minimum 2-3 years merchandise planning experience; 5 or more years of total work experience.
- Demonstrated experience:
- Presenting and recommending strategies and building a business case.
- Strategic forecasting for a multidimensional business.
- Assuming additional areas of accountability successfully.
- Influencing and negotiating at a variety of levels.
Education: 4-year degree; advanced degree a plus.
Skills:
- Well-developed written and verbal communication skills including presenting complex material in an organized and compelling manner.
- Well-versed in planning and allocation systems, as well as advanced Microsoft windows applications.
- Analytical/Math Skills.
- Project Management.
- Strategic Forecasting & Financial Planning.
LI-Hybrid
LI-MS1
Pay Range: $82,500-$117,100
PVH currently provides base salary ranges for all positions on job advertisements in the United States based on local requirements. These ranges are based on what PVH reasonably believes that it will pay an associate for their base salary for said position at the time of the posting. Individual compensation will ultimately be determined based on a variety of relevant factors including but not limited to qualifications, geographic location and other relevant skills. PVH is committed to providing a market-competitive total rewards package to eligible associates, which includes diverse and robust health and insurance benefits to meet the varied needs of our associates and an above-market 401(k) contribution to help our associates save for retirement. We also offer career growth opportunities, empowering our associates to design their future at PVH. Additional Compensation: This role is bonus eligible.
Your Wellbeing is Our Priority
At PVH, we offer competitive, cost-effective, and comprehensive benefit packages. We strive to provide options when it comes to your health, finances, and work-life balance. This includes:
- Pay & Insurance: Competitive pay, bonus programs, best in class medical insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and more.
- 401(k): An above-market 401(k) contribution to help our eligible associates save for retirement.
- Flexible Workplace: Generous company-paid holidays, paid time off, hybrid working arrangements, volunteer opportunities, seasonal hours, and flexible work schedules.
- Wellbeing Support: A variety of wellbeing tools and programs such as, Headspace membership, reimbursement for fitness memberships and/or digital meditation subscriptions, and the opportunity to earn up to $200 a year in rewards for exercising and participating in healthy activities.
- Care.com Services: Access to services for childcare, elder care, adoption preparation, pet care, plus reimbursement for backup care when your regular plans fall through.
- Education Assistance: Receive support for continued education including tuition reimbursement.
- Associate Discount: Shop at our company outlets and e-commerce sites at a discount.
Please note, eligibility depends on employment status, location and length of time employed with PVH and our benefits may be subject to change. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
About PVH:
We are brand builders who focus our passion and creativity to build Calvin Klein and TOMMY HILFIGER into the most desirable lifestyle brands in the world and at the same time position PVH as one of the best-performing brand groups in our sector. Guided by our values and enabled by our scale and global reach, we are driving fashion forward for good, as one team with one vision and one plan. That’s the Power of Us, that’s the Power of PVH+.
One of PVH’s greatest strengths is our people. Our collective desire is to create a workplace environment where every individual is valued, and every voice is heard, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse community of associates with a strong sense of belonging. Learn more about Inclusion & Diversity at PVH here.
PVH Corp. or its subsidiary ("PVH") is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment on the basis of their individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military status or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or local law. In addition to complying with all applicable laws, PVH is also committed to ensuring that all current and future PVH associates are compensated solely on job-related factors such as skill, ability, educational background, work quality, experience and potential.
To achieve these goals, across the United States and its territories, PVH prohibits any PVH employee, agent or representative from requesting or otherwise considering any job applicant’s current or prior wages, salary or other compensation information in connection with the hiring process. Accordingly, applicants are asked not to disclose this salary history information to PVH.
Location: New York, New York, United States of America
Category: Merchandising
Job ID: R60304
widget: Full time
Brand: Calvin Klein
Non-Retail
Be part of an iconic story.
At Calvin Klein, we believe in fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture by celebrating different perspectives, backgrounds and beliefs to truly connect with our associates and consumers. Join us and have a meaningful impact on the world – and – endless opportunities to design your future. Immerse yourself in Calvin Klein here! (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok)
About the Role:
The Planner is responsible for developing, executing and communicating strategic merchandise financial plans for the Calvin Klein Omni-Channel and driving business to meet the division’s financial, merchandising and marketing objectives.
What You'll Do:
Accountabilities:
- Develop, execute, and communicate strategic merchandise financial plans that support the company’s financial, product, and marketing objectives.
- Strategically drive the business in order to maximize sales and margin, and optimize inventory.
- Contribute to the development of Brand initiatives, and ensure that all planning activities support annual goals.
- Create strategic financial plans that support the company’s objectives and brand goals.
- At a Department & Product Segmentation level, develop sales, gross margin, and inventory plans that support the company’s profit objectives. Collaborate with merchandising to ensure that financial objectives align with product opportunities.
- Guide the merchandising team, utilizing historical data and current trends, to capitalize on new opportunities, and identify risks. Communicate opportunities and risks to key business partners including merchandising, finance, marketing, visual, and brand leaders.
- Build and maintain a strategic promotional calendar, in partnership with merchandising and marketing.
- Provide guidance on key/peak weeks.
- Budget: Help build and manage the budget for area of responsibility and ensure we are meeting our sales, GM and inventory targets.
- Decision Making: Must be able to make decisions quickly in an ever-changing environment; partner cross functionally with cross-functional team. Identify risks and opportunities relative to sales trends on product, flow, and presentation.
- Resourcefulness/Creativity: Must be flexible to adapt to changing trends of business and/or ad hoc projects and be detail orientated.
Weekly Business Management:
- Provide updated weekly forecasts to merchandising team detailing category opportunities and risks, recommending markdowns, and reflowing inventory as needed. Ensure that all decisions are based on historical data and/or current trends.
- Present “action points” to cross functional teams and senior management and gain consensus on business.
- Drive strategic pricing decisions with cross functional team to maximize sales and margin.
- Manage seasonal liabilities, inventory by source, and recommend reflow of new deliveries as needed.
Owner of the Open to Buy Process and Meetings:
- Partner with merchandising, visual and marketing to develop 90 day forecast for sales, margin, and inventory.
- Develop analytics to support business approach including source, delivery, and season forecasts.
- Pre-meet with divisional leadership to gain consensus prior to monthly strategic meeting.
- Lead and direct the monthly forecast meeting providing guidance to business leaders and finance. Recommend strategic actions to maximize sales and margin, optimize inventory, and mitigate risk. Collaborate with the field organization, visual, marketing, and other critical partners to ensure execution of strategies.
- Lead the receipt reconciliation process with merchant team. Ensure that on order and committed receipts are delivering in time to support forecasts. Identify risks and drive action plans to manage. Recommend “chasing” or “reflowing” receipts as appropriate.
Pre-Season Planning Process:
- Review historical performance at the department and program item level. Present analysis by source, delivery, and category to merchants to understand prior performance and develop future goals.
- Pre-season create department, category and item plans to support the development of the line.
- Provide receipt plans, margin and IMU goals, and flow strategies to merchants to drive assortment execution.
- Review and reconcile assortments with inventory planners to ensure appropriate breadth and depth, and flawless execution. Provide guidance on store clusters and alpha ranks.
- Lead and facilitate buy finalization meeting with merchant. Present pre-season plans that support new assortment. Identify risks and opportunities relative to product, flow, and presentation. Highlight changes to store groups and distribution strategies relative to last year or prior buys.
- Gain consensus on assortment and plans from senior management. Lock plans seasonally and ensure that any reforecasting of sales, margin, or inventory (based on changes in trends) is reflected as new assortments are delivered.
What You'll Bring:
Experience:
- Minimum 2-3 years merchandise planning experience; 5 or more years of total work experience.
- Demonstrated experience:
- Presenting and recommending strategies and building a business case.
- Strategic forecasting for a multidimensional business.
- Assuming additional areas of accountability successfully.
- Influencing and negotiating at a variety of levels.
Education: 4-year degree; advanced degree a plus.
Skills:
- Well-developed written and verbal communication skills including presenting complex material in an organized and compelling manner.
- Well-versed in planning and allocation systems, as well as advanced Microsoft windows applications.
- Analytical/Math Skills.
- Project Management.
- Strategic Forecasting & Financial Planning.
LI-Hybrid
LI-MS1
Pay Range: $82,500-$117,100
PVH currently provides base salary ranges for all positions on job advertisements in the United States based on local requirements. These ranges are based on what PVH reasonably believes that it will pay an associate for their base salary for said position at the time of the posting. Individual compensation will ultimately be determined based on a variety of relevant factors including but not limited to qualifications, geographic location and other relevant skills. PVH is committed to providing a market-competitive total rewards package to eligible associates, which includes diverse and robust health and insurance benefits to meet the varied needs of our associates and an above-market 401(k) contribution to help our associates save for retirement. We also offer career growth opportunities, empowering our associates to design their future at PVH. Additional Compensation: This role is bonus eligible.
Your Wellbeing is Our Priority
At PVH, we offer competitive, cost-effective, and comprehensive benefit packages. We strive to provide options when it comes to your health, finances, and work-life balance. This includes:
- Pay & Insurance: Competitive pay, bonus programs, best in class medical insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and more.
- 401(k): An above-market 401(k) contribution to help our eligible associates save for retirement.
- Flexible Workplace: Generous company-paid holidays, paid time off, hybrid working arrangements, volunteer opportunities, seasonal hours, and flexible work schedules.
- Wellbeing Support: A variety of wellbeing tools and programs such as, Headspace membership, reimbursement for fitness memberships and/or digital meditation subscriptions, and the opportunity to earn up to $200 a year in rewards for exercising and participating in healthy activities.
- Care.com Services: Access to services for childcare, elder care, adoption preparation, pet care, plus reimbursement for backup care when your regular plans fall through.
- Education Assistance: Receive support for continued education including tuition reimbursement.
- Associate Discount: Shop at our company outlets and e-commerce sites at a discount.
Please note, eligibility depends on employment status, location and length of time employed with PVH and our benefits may be subject to change. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
About PVH:
We are brand builders who focus our passion and creativity to build Calvin Klein and TOMMY HILFIGER into the most desirable lifestyle brands in the world and at the same time position PVH as one of the best-performing brand groups in our sector. Guided by our values and enabled by our scale and global reach, we are driving fashion forward for good, as one team with one vision and one plan. That’s the Power of Us, that’s the Power of PVH+.
One of PVH’s greatest strengths is our people. Our collective desire is to create a workplace environment where every individual is valued, and every voice is heard, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse community of associates with a strong sense of belonging. Learn more about Inclusion & Diversity at PVH here.
PVH Corp. or its subsidiary ("PVH") is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment on the basis of their individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military status or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or local law. In addition to complying with all applicable laws, PVH is also committed to ensuring that all current and future PVH associates are compensated solely on job-related factors such as skill, ability, educational background, work quality, experience and potential.
To achieve these goals, across the United States and its territories, PVH prohibits any PVH employee, agent or representative from requesting or otherwise considering any job applicant’s current or prior wages, salary or other compensation information in connection with the hiring process. Accordingly, applicants are asked not to disclose this salary history information to PVH.
See all 60+ OPT Merchandise Associate Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Merchandise Associate Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Merchandise Associate
Clarify your authorization type upfront
When applying, state clearly that you have OPT work authorization and don't require immediate visa sponsorship. Many retail and merchandising teams are unfamiliar with OPT, so a brief, confident explanation prevents unnecessary rejections early in the process.
Target employers with existing OPT or H-1B history
Larger retailers and consumer goods companies are more likely to have sponsored workers before and have HR processes for it. Smaller boutiques rarely do. Prioritize employers where immigration infrastructure already exists, especially if you're planning for long-term sponsorship.
Connect your degree directly to the role
Merchandise Associate roles often blend business, logistics, and data analysis. Explicitly linking your supply chain, business, or fashion merchandising degree to the job description strengthens your OPT eligibility narrative and makes it easier for HR to verify the connection.
Apply before your OPT start date approaches
Hiring for merchandise roles moves quickly, but onboarding can take four to six weeks. Submit applications at least two months before your OPT start date so your authorization is active and verified before your first scheduled shift begins.
Emphasize data and inventory skills in your resume
Merchandise Associate roles increasingly rely on inventory management software and sales data analysis. Highlighting technical skills makes you a stronger candidate and shifts the conversation toward your value, not your visa status, during early screening calls.
Ask about long-term sponsorship during final-round interviews
Raise H-1B visa or other sponsorship only after you have demonstrated clear interest from the employer. Frame it as planning ahead, not as a demand. Retailers that value talent retention are more receptive than those filling short-term operational gaps.
Merchandise Associate OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Merchandise Associate on F-1 OPT?
Yes, as long as the role is directly related to your degree field. A Merchandise Associate position typically qualifies for students with degrees in business, retail management, supply chain, or fashion merchandising. Before accepting an offer, confirm the connection between your specific degree and the job duties to stay compliant with USCIS OPT requirements.
Do Merchandise Associate employers typically sponsor visas?
Sponsorship varies significantly by employer size. Large national retailers and consumer goods companies with established HR teams are more likely to have sponsored H-1B workers before. Smaller regional retailers and independent stores rarely do. Browsing Merchandise Associate listings on Migrate Mate helps you identify employers who have a history of hiring international candidates.
Does a Merchandise Associate role qualify for a STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If you hold a STEM-designated degree such as supply chain management, data analytics, or information systems, and your Merchandise Associate role involves qualifying work in that field, you may be eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Consult your DSO to confirm your degree's CIP code qualifies before applying.
What happens to my OPT status if I'm laid off from a Merchandise Associate job?
You have a 90-day unemployment buffer across your entire OPT period, not per job. If you lose a Merchandise Associate role, that clock starts immediately. Retail and merchandising can have seasonal layoffs, so it's worth understanding your remaining unemployment days and starting your job search promptly to avoid falling out of status.
How soon can I start a Merchandise Associate job after receiving my EAD card?
You cannot legally begin work until you have your EAD card in hand and your OPT start date has arrived, whichever is later. EAD production typically takes two to three months after your application is received by USCIS, so apply well in advance. Coordinate your offer acceptance and start date with your employer around the expected card arrival.