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Merchandising Manager - Category Management, Diamond Basics

Blue Nile

New York, NY · Posted November 12, 2026

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November 2026

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  • Excel
  • SQL
  • Tableau

About the job

Blue Nile is seeking a Manager of Category Management, Diamond Basics to drive day-to-day strategy, performance, and evolution of the Blue Nile assortment. This Manager will combine strong merchant instincts, diamond and product knowledge, customer understanding and analytical rigor to optimize these businesses. The role will own category-level analysis and execution across assortment, pricing, natural and lab-grown mix, product lifecycle, inventory and new product.

Responsibilities - Category Strategy & Ownership :

Manage day-to-day performance and execution of the Diamond Basics businesses in partnership with the Director of Category Management

Translate broader category strategies into actionable assortment, pricing, product, inventory and merchandising plans

Develop deep expertise in the distinct customer missions, shopping behaviors and competitive dynamics of each category

Maintain clear roles for natural and lab-grown diamonds within each category and identify opportunities to evolve the mix based on customer demand and business performance

Identify white space across product type, diamond shape, carat weight, setting, metal, price point and customer need

Develop fact-based recommendations for where Blue Nile should invest, expand, test, maintain, reposition or exit

Balance assortment breadth and customer choice with the need for a more curated, intentional Blue Nile point of view

Partner with Site Merchandising, Creative, Marketing, Technology and Retail to ensure Diamond Basics are presented in ways that make selection inspiring, understandable and intuitive on site and in store

Establish product priorities for category pages, search, sort, recommendations, storytelling, marketing, and promotional placements

Ensure hero products and key assortment stories receive appropriate visibility

Balance visibility of proven core products with strategic newness and growth opportunities

Translate complex product differences into clear merchandising stories that help customers quickly understand why a product matters

Provide Retail partners with clear product priorities and category stories that Client Advisors can confidently bring to customers

Responsibilities - Assortment & Curation:

Manage the Diamond Basics assortment across key classifications including earrings, pendants, necklaces, and bracelets with responsibility for natural and lab-grown diamond offerings

Build clear assortment architecture across carat weight, diamond type, setting, metal, silhouette and price

Ensure strong coverage of core customer needs while continually identifying opportunities for newness and assortment expansion

Establish clear good/better/best and opening/core/premium product ladders where appropriate

Analyze productivity at the SKU and attribute level to identify assortment gaps, duplication and opportunities for rationalization

Identify and scale winning product concepts while ensuring long-tail SKUs have a strategic reason to remain in the assortment

Partner with Demand Planning to align inventory depth and availability with product productivity and strategic importance

Responsibilities - Commercial Management:

Monitor Diamond Basics performance across revenue, units, ASP, margin, conversion, inventory productivity and customer engagement

Understand performance differences across natural versus lab-grown, preset versus customizable products, price tiers, carat weights, metals and product classifications

Use performance data to recommend changes to assortment, pricing, promotions, inventory investment and site exposure

Work closely with Pricing, Finance, and Planning to maintain competitive price architecture while protecting margin and profitability

Responsibilities - Product Development and Innovation:

Partner with the Director, Product Development, Design, Sourcing and Planning to translate category opportunities into new-product briefs

Use business performance, competitive intelligence, customer behavior and emerging diamond and jewelry trends to identify opportunities for innovation

Recommend extensions of winning products across diamond type, shape, carat weight, metal, setting and price point

Develop commercial guardrails for new products, including target price positioning, assortment role and expected customer need

Support launches from initial concept through assortment planning, launch readiness, digital presentation and post-launch analysis

Establish success criteria and provide clear recommendations to scale, adjust or exit products following launch

Bachelor’s degree in business, Economics, Analytics, Marketing or a related field

3-5+ years’ experience in merchandising with preference for diamond expertise

Strategic mindset with a focus on translating complex data into actionable business strategies

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with shifting priorities

Strong analytical and quantitative skills with proficiency in tools such as Excel, SQL, Tableau or similar platforms

Strong leadership skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments

At Blue Nile, many of our roles offer a high-quality, comprehensive benefits package including healthcare, paid time off, retirement planning and opportunities for career advancement. Some offerings are dependent upon the role, employment type, work schedule or location:

Paid Time Off

Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match

Flexible Spending Account | Health Savings Account

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Discount

Parental Leave

Life Insurance

Annual base pay: $100,000 - $140,000. Final pay rate shall be determined and is based on experience and qualifications.

At this time, Blue Nile will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position. #LI-WK1

Additional Information: Blue Nile is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender reassignment, citizenship, immigration status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited under applicable federal, state or local law. Blue Nile will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws.

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