Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:
Reporting to the Pacific Category Director, the Senior Manager, Category Management will lead the creation and execution of category strategies and range plans for the Pacific market. This role ensures alignment with guidelines from Emerging Markets Business Units & Global, driving growth and brand relevance across Originals and related categories.
Key Responsibilities:
* Partner with the Category Director to develop winning category strategies for the Originals Business Unit.
* Validate category ranges against country Range Architecture and market needs.
* Leverage deep understanding of the Pacific market landscape from both customer and consumer perspectives.
* Lead and inspire direct reports across multiple categories: Originals Apparel & Footwear, Kids, Accessories, Basketball Lifestyle, Statement, Hype & Skateboarding.
* Build strong relationships with Emerging Markets BU, advocating for local market needs.
* Conduct in-depth category analysis, including sell-through, forecasting, pricing corridors, and segmentation compliance.
* Manage E2E calendar deliverables, pricing harmonization, and volume/mix forecasts to hit margin, Net Sales, and forecast accuracy targets.
* Provide timely feedback on samples, oversee ordering processes, and maintain system accuracy for local articles and SMUs.
* Maximize in-season creation and hype opportunities while ensuring mandatory range compliance.
* Define and manage customer segmentation, competition insights, and category-level market intelligence.
* Deliver impactful category presentations at key GTM milestones.
* Collaborate with Brand Activation on seasonal category brand calendars.
* Lead key internal meetings (Pre-view, Monthly Category, Pre-Buy, Final Buy, Marketing Campaign reviews, etc.) and support strategic planning processes (IBP/SBP).
KPI’s:
* Category Net Sales growth
* Net and Gross Margin performance
* Sell-out rates
* Range segmentation compliance
* Price corridor adherence
* Market share gains
Key Relationships:
* Senior Brand Director
* Category Director
* Brand Team (RA, AP, MOPS, BA, Digital)
* Emerging Markets BU Team
* Wholesale Channel Team
* Direct-to-Consumer Buying Team
* Finance, Demand Planning, Business Development
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
* Proven experience in marketing, merchandising, category management/planning, assortment planning, or retail, with a strong track record of results.
* Cross-disciplinary exposure (brand communication, sales) advantageous.
* Influential leadership skills with the ability to align stakeholders.
* Strong numerical and analytical capabilities; advanced MS Excel & PowerPoint proficiency.
* Highly organized, process-oriented, and fact-driven decision-maker.
* Comfortable working under pressure in collaborative team settings.
Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:
* University degree in Business or Marketing
* 7+ years relevant experience
* Passion for sports and style