CMM Men's Apparel

Category Merchandising Manager

The Category Merchandising Manager shapes the Men's Apparel business through assortment strategy, vendor partnerships, and category performance. Working cross-functionally, this role develops and executes assortment strategies that align with customer preferences, regional and store specialty needs, and financial objectives while delivering an exceptional customer experience. The Category Merchandising Manager leads the end-to-end buying process, including gathering regional and store feedback, writing orders, managing allocations, negotiating vendor partnerships, and collaborating with Planning, Marketing, Stores, Digital Content, and other cross-functional teams to ensure successful execution. This role establishes seasonal priorities, monitors category performance, and adjusts strategies based on sales, margin, inventory, and market trends to achieve revenue, profitability, and inventory goals while continuously improving the Men's Apparel business.

Your responsibilities include:

• Develop and execute Men's Apparel assortment strategies that align with customer preferences, regional and store specialty needs, and budget goals, ensuring an exceptional customer experience.
• Cultivate strategic vendor partnerships, negotiate favorable terms, and identify opportunities to improve assortment performance, profitability, and long-term business growth.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with Planning, Marketing, Stores, Digital Content, and Operations to ensure seasonal assortment strategies are successfully executed across the organization.
• Influence depth and breadth of the assortment in partnership with Planning and Stores, maintaining our specialty presence.
• Own and prioritize the complete buying cycle, ensuring timely execution, operational excellence, and alignment with seasonal business objectives while meeting vendor deadlines and maximizing financial opportunities.
• Establish consistent merchandising processes and manage all administrative functions that support accurate, timely, and efficient execution of the buying cycle.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to develop and execute pricing, promotional, and markdown strategies that maximize sales, profitability, and inventory productivity.
• Monitor industry trends, customer behavior, competitive activity, and product innovation to proactively identify opportunities that strengthen category performance and customer relevance.
• Monitor category performance through sales, margin, inventory, and productivity metrics, making data-driven adjustments to assortment, pricing, inventory, and promotional strategies to achieve financial and business objectives.
• Build collaborative partnerships with stores and regional teams to gather feedback, align assortment strategies, and continuously improve customer experience across all markets.
• Prioritize seasonal initiatives and business opportunities to ensure team efforts remain aligned with company goals, financial objectives, and customer needs.
• Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

• 5 years' experience in buying, merchandising, or a related field, with a strong track record of successfully managing product assortments and vendor relationships; outdoor apparel category experience preferred.
• Proven negotiation skills that have resulted in increased margin, assortment access, or marketing benefits.
• Strong analytical skills that have resulted in better product buying decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional partners, prioritize competing business needs, and drive execution across multiple teams.
• Clear understanding of apparel trends, fit, fabrication, and seasonal buying cycles.
• Ability to work well under pressure while remaining flexible and adaptive to changing priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel as needed.
• Keen attention to detail and strong organization is a must.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office products, especially Excel.

The Perks and Benefits: (* Benefits for Year-Round Full-Time Employees)

• Free Employee Ski Pass
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance*
• Employer Paid Basic Life Insurance and AD&D*
• Voluntary Life Insurance (Employee/Spouse/Child)*
• Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts*
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with Company Match
• Paid Time Off*
• Paid Sick Time (State applicable)
• Paid Parental Leave*
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability*
• Employee Discounts (ski, retail, outdoor industry and much more!!)

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Christy Sports is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. If you need assistance or accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.

The budgeted range is: $75,000 - $90,000 annually. Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience.

**Bonus eligible based upon company performance indicators

Working Conditions:

Physical Demands:

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds. (Request help with heavy or awkward boxes/products). Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision, Distance vision, Peripheral vision, Depth perception and Ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs and ladders, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk.

Work Environment:

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.