FIT NYC Adjunct Faculty Pool - Merchandising Strategy & Retail Management, Graduate Studies

Job Description:

The Global Fashion Management Master's Program at the Fashion Institute of Technology seeks an Adjunct Instructor to teach Merchandising Strategy & Retail Management (GF 631B). This graduate-level course develops advanced strategic and managerial competencies in merchandising strategy, retail operations, and profitability management across global markets. This course will meet one evening a week in the Fall.

The course examines how assortment planning, pricing architecture, and margin performance align with retail operations, organizational leadership, and human capital development. Students explore how data analytics and emerging AI tools are transforming merchandising decisions, forecasting, and operational efficiency.

Through case studies, KPI analysis, and applied industry projects, students learn to design profitable merchandising strategies, evaluate retail performance, and lead cross-functional teams within fashion and lifestyle organizations.

Responsibilities

• Teach and facilitate graduate-level instruction in merchandising strategy and retail management.
• Develop and deliver course content covering assortment planning, pricing strategy, retail distribution models, and financial performance metrics.
• Guide students in analyzing key retail KPIs including COGS, blended margin, GMROI, sell-through, and inventory turnover.
• Incorporate industry case studies and applied projects focused on global fashion and lifestyle brands.
• Introduce students to the use of retail analytics and emerging AI tools for forecasting, inventory planning, and profitability management.
• Foster collaborative learning environments that prepare students to lead multicultural retail teams and deliver customer-centric strategies.
• Evaluate student work and provide feedback aligned with graduate-level academic standards.
• Integrate discussions on sustainability, ethical sourcing, and responsible leadership within merchandising and operational decision-making.

Adjunct instructors deliver relevant course material, assess student performance, provide guidance and assistance to students both in and out of the classroom, and submit grades in a timely manner. Course descriptions are available in the online catalog and website .

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Fashion Business, Retail Management, Merchandising, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years professional experience in merchandising, retail strategy, or fashion business management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of retail financial metrics, assortment planning, and global retail operations.
• Ability to connect industry practice with graduate-level academic instruction.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Senior leadership experience in merchandising, retail operations, or fashion brand management.
• Experience using retail analytics platforms, merchandising planning tools, or AI-enabled forecasting systems.
• Prior teaching experience at the college or graduate level.
• Experience working within global fashion or lifestyle brands across multiple markets.

Additional Information:

This is a part-time position, adjunct teaching position beginning in Fall 2026. Review of applications will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled. The department will keep this posting open to create a pool of candidates for potential future adjunct assignments. The department will contact applicants whose qualifications fit our programmatic needs.

Compensation

The UCE-FIT Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) governs the compensation, benefits, and conditions of employment.

$89.98 per hour based on minimum qualifications. The final rate, step and appointment rank are determined by a candidate's ability to demonstrate that they meet the respective school's additional criteria for hiring "above the first step," in accordance with the CBA Adjunct Salary Schedules (pp 88-89) .

Benefits

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) provides comprehensive employee benefit programs designed to help keep our faculty and staff and their families healthy, safe, happy, and productive. Our programs also include a variety of components to help our employees improve the quality and balance of their work and family lives and to help them prepare for their futures. For a full list of benefits, visit FIT Benefits .

Pay Equity by State Employers

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history until the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

Visa Sponsorship

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship by the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

FIT is firmly committed to creating an environment that will attract and retain people from a range of backgrounds. FIT is firmly committed to creating a learning and working environment that encourages, utilizes, respects, and appreciates the full expression of every individual's ability. The FIT community fosters its mission and grows because of its rich, pluralistic experience. FIT is committed to prohibiting discrimination, whether on the basis of race, color, creed, age, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, partnership status, caregiver status, sexual and reproductive health decisions, uniformed service, height, weight, any lawful source of income, status as a victim of domestic violence or as a victim of sex offenses or stalking, whether children are, may be or would be residing with a person or conviction or arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. FIT is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, including the opportunity for upward mobility for all qualified individuals. Applications from veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged. Inquiries regarding FIT's non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Chief Equal Employment Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, 212 217.3360.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

The working conditions for this position will be any combination of the classroom, lab, and/or office space. Certain roles may be required to handle machinery and chemicals. The physical requirement for this position will require occasional sitting, constant standing, occasional bending, frequent walking, and occasionally lifting 10 lbs. or less.

Application Instructions:

In order to be considered for the position, please submit the following documents online:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Unofficial Transcript*
• A list of three references with telephone numbers and email addresses

*Official transcripts are required within the first 30 days of hire. Applicants with foreign degrees must submit a completed credential evaluation comparing their foreign academic accomplishments to standards in the U.S.

Returning Applicants- Login to your FITNYC Careers Account to check your submitted application materials.

Please note that due to the volume of applications, we will not be able to contact each applicant individually.

Additional information about the Fashion Institute of Technology can be found at: http://www.fitnyc.edu .

About Fashion Institute of Technology:

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), an internationally renowned college of art and design, business and technology, of the State University of New York, invites invites experienced professionals to join our adjunct faculty pool within the Global Fashion Management department, in the School of Graduate Studies.

FIT's School of Graduate Studies connects creative excellence with strategic leadership, preparing students to drive innovation across global industries. Located in New York City, the school leverages deep industry partnerships and a worldwide alumni network to deliver an education rooted in applied learning and professional relevance.

Within the School, the Global Fashion Management (GFM) program stands at the intersection of fashion, business, and global strategy. Offered in collaboration with international partner institutions in Paris, Hong Kong, and Mexico City, GFM focuses on developing leaders who can navigate cultural complexity, organizational transformation, and emerging opportunities across the international fashion landscape.