Category Manager- Giro

JOB OVERVIEW

The Category Manager, Giro Cycling is responsible for driving the end-to-end product creation process, creating global lines for your given product segments. You will develop iconic and long-lifecycle seasonal styles by working cross-functionally with the merchandising, design, and development teams to create innovative product roadmaps while keeping seasonal projects on calendar (Innovation Trail/Road), championing the PLM process (Centric), managing samples for meetings/tradeshows, building marketing/catalog insights, presenting product to global teams, and assisting in regional sales meetings. In addition, you will establish control-related standards and procedures that will serve as the foundation of Giro’s product creation process. You will be interacting with global and regional teams daily to ensure Giro leads the globe in Cycling hardgoods and softgoods. Reporting to the Director of Merchandising, this is a high-level role with exposure across the organization and requires very close collaboration with cross functional departments and leaders.

This position reports to the Director of Merchandising and allows you the flexibility of a hybrid schedule to work from your home office 2 days a week and 3 days out of our Irvine, CA office.

As the Category Manager, you will have an opportunity to:

• Lead the product creation process with clear product vision, which blends Giro’s DNA & regional needs with the higher strategic objectives and growth initiatives.
• Collaborate and build seasonal product lines that meet goals across architecture, design, costing, and brand with specific regional requirements as outlined by the merchandising team.
• Act as the primary interface across functions and departments for the product team, servicing needs and communication across Merch, Design, Sourcing and Development.
• Execute and manage the product creation process from brief-handoff to sales-meeting while adhering to the designated calendar milestones.
• Maintain all product information systems as needed. Manage all operational tasks (in relation to ownership of the product line) including PLM systems management, creation of the Visual Line Plan, product fittings, wear testing, and sample management.
• Execute on the key product initiatives and correlated investments to hit seasonal revenue targets, including corresponding financial margin initiatives. Determine target costs, deliveries, and projections to represent the global line needs.
• Stay connected to the competitive landscape and be able to benchmark perceived value to ensure Giro is creating unique competitive advantages.
• Actively listen to all members of the cross-functional team to ensure that feedback is properly integrated.
• Consult the Merchandising team during creation of seasonal product briefs and development of the 5-year soft-goods, hardgoods and accessories roadmaps through expert knowledge of segment-specific products.
• Drive highly competitive perceived value through, function, fabrications, trims, and silhouettes.
• Present seasonal line offerings at all major product creation milestones and guiding global and regional assortments.
• Work with the Merchandising team to provide content and information to marketing and sales teams that allow execution of all global sell-in & sell-out tools for the category. Articulate clear product positioning, product segmentation, and product line objectives.
• Provide relevant product-related content and information for the seasonal catalog as well as product packaging needs, managing all copy in PLM to ensure accuracy.
• Validate and execute all divisional SMU requests presented by merchandising and sales teams.
• Partner with development in costing optimization and Merchandising for pricing strategies.
• Possess an understanding of production timelines and minimums.
• Your strong leadership skills will motivate, guide, influence and coach teammates, and cross-functional partners to make Fox products the best in the world and fuel our global growth.

Competencies:

• Motivated and goal-oriented
• Strong analytical skills
• Organized
• Passion for product, high energy, strong leadership skills
• Effective communication and speaking skills
• Credible knowledge of consumer trends and market dynamics
• Team Player
• Ability to effectively create and manage processes
• Ability to succeed in a fast-paced, sometimes stressful, team-oriented environment.
• Strong business orientation and computing skills

You have:

• 5 + years of experience in product management/development/merchandising.

• Preferably a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, engineering or related field.

• Strong decision maker with ability to deal with ambiguity and conflict resolution

• Effective communicator and presenter with strong leadership skills

• Technologically proficient in Microsoft and Adobe Suites on Mac or PC platforms

• Ability to grasp and learn new platforms, concepts, and programs quickly

• Versed in fashion, color, and trend analysis

• Strong business orientation, analytical aptitude, and computing skills

• Ability to effectively create and manage processes

• Must be extremely organized and able to work within a Matrix organization

• Self-starter who can excel in a remote environment with minimal if any direct supervision

• Ability to succeed in a fast-paced, sometimes stressful, team-oriented environment.

Pay Range:

The actual annual salary offered to a candidate will be based on variables including experience, geographic location, education, and skills/achievements, and will be mutually agreed upon at the time of offer.

We offer a highly competitive salary, comprehensive benefits including: medical and dental, vision, disability and life insurance, 401K, PTO, paid holidays, gear discounts and the ability to add value to an exciting mission!

Our Postings are not intended for distribution to or use in any jurisdiction, country or territory where such distribution or use would violate local law or would subject us to any regulations in another jurisdiction, country or territory. We reserve the right to limit our Postings in any jurisdiction, country or territory.

Equal Opportunity Employer Protected Veteran/Disabled