Sr Category Merchandise Manager, Action Sports- Cycle Accessories & Car Racks

The Senior Category Merchandising Manager contributes to REI’s success by developing strategic business plans and driving key company financial metrics including sales, turn, margin and in-stock goals for $200M+ category annual sales, specifically for Cycle. This leader supports the roll up of multiple departments within the shop, customer-centric assortment architecture, and product selection for the Retail and Direct channels, while leading, coaching and developing a team of Buyers and/or Assistant Category Merchants.

Your Planning & Navigating Requirements

• Provide thought leadership with CMM peers and develops x-div product support plans (Marketing, Visual Merch, Retail Ops and Digital Retail) on a seasonal and annualized basis.
• Review and react to in-season trends.
• Formulate Co-Op Brands assortment strategies in partnership with Product Line Manager, including target cost and retail, initial forecast, seasonal delivery timelines by item, communicating market trend, product sales histories, product lifecycle, style targets, and customer.
• Lead in driving key financial metrics and assortment plans for a category/ activity of responsibility, supporting the long-range strategic growth initiatives based on a deep understanding of customer insights and market trends.
• Continually seek out new vendors and innovative product opportunities
• Present final assortment and department direction to other stakeholders within the company.
• Negotiate with vendors for best costs, terms, discounts, freight, marketing support to optimize profitability.
• Build and maintain relationships with vendors in developing long range strategic business plans.
• Build compelling assortments that meet the needs of our target customers by considering product attributes, intended end use, activity levels, pricing ladder, REI Brand Frame and market trends.

Leading the Way

• Provides coaching, direction and leadership support to employees in order to achieve department, company and customer results.
• Challenges, inspires, and cultivates a team environment.
• Identifies and communicates key responsibilities and practices to ensure the organization promotes a successful attitude, confidence in leadership, and teamwork to achieve business results.
• Oversees training and development of employees directly and indirectly manages.

At REI we offer an enviable work environment that Fortune Magazine has recognized on the "100 Best Places to Work" list since the award's inception – 23 years in a row! Sure, we work hard, but it’s balanced with time off to play—a strategy that works for us as we continue to grow and thrive. Want to enjoy a workplace where you can be yourself, be heard and be respected while having a job that challenges you? This is the place.

With more than 160 retail locations (and growing), REI offers unique competitive benefits to its more than 15,000 employees, including healthcare, gear and apparel discounts, free equipment rentals and challenge grants to help employees reach personal outdoor goals, generous retirement plan contributions, public transit subsidy, adoptions assistance, paid sabbaticals, and more.

REI is an Equal Opportunity Employer