Chief Merchant at Forter

We are looking for a Chief Merchant who will serve as the authentic voice of the merchant at Forter and champion the customer perspective across our marketing, sales, and product teams. This senior leadership role is ideal for an experienced retail executive ready to translate deep industry expertise into strategic growth for a high-growth technology company.

Responsibilities

• Act as Forter’s chief ambassador and thought leader at industry events, conferences, and trade shows, representing the merchant viewpoint to customers and prospects.
• Partner with the VP of Growth and VP of Market Strategy to deliver thought leadership and market education that strengthens demand generation and brand positioning.
• Leverage your network to build trusted C-suite relationships that open doors with key customers and prospects.
• Design and lead community development programs that foster engagement, knowledge-sharing, and loyalty among our customer base.
• Identify and nurture reference-ready customers, building a scalable referral program that generates high-quality pipeline and drives revenue.
• Manage and mentor the Senior Director of Customer Advocacy and Engagement, overseeing Voice of the Customer and advocacy initiatives.
• Collaborate with Sales to integrate customer stories and merchant insights into the sales process, accelerating deal velocity.
• Work with Product and Engineering teams to bring an “outside-in” perspective that ensures solutions deliver unique value for merchants.

Must-haves

• 15+ years of senior leadership experience in digital, e-commerce, or product roles at an enterprise apparel, accessories, beauty, or retail organization.
• Active participation in commerce and retail industry communities and networks.
• Strong executive presence with proven public speaking and storytelling skills.
• Commercial mindset that translates customer relationships and community engagement into measurable pipeline and revenue outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to operate strategically and cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience mentoring teams and fostering a culture of excellence and customer-centricity.
• Fluency in English.

Nice-to-haves

• Prior experience leading community or advocacy programs at scale.
• Existing relationships with senior leaders across major retail and commerce organizations.

Benefits

$238,000 - $322,000 annually + bonus + equity

• Matching 401k plan
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Home office budget
• Paid time off, including a generous PTO policy and half-day Fridays
• Hybrid work model with at least three in-office days per week near key hubs