About the Company: Columbia Sportswear Company is dedicated to delivering innovative outdoor gear and apparel. Our mission is to connect active people with their passions through high-quality products and exceptional service. We foster a culture of inclusivity, teamwork, and respect, ensuring that every employee feels valued and empowered.
About the Role: The Category Merchandise Manager provides leadership for the Sourcing, Costing, and Product Development functions for the assigned Categories within the Regional Liaison Office. This role manages Vendor relationships to deliver the Profitability, On-time Execution, Quality, and SMP goals for the assigned Category(ies) and that of Columbia Sportswear Company.
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with Regional Merchandise Director to execute seasonal and long-term sourcing strategy for apparel from the Regional Source Base.
- Develop and maintain the product source base plan for the Liaison Office, based upon the Regional/Brand/Channel needs and aligned with the CSC global source strategy.
- Lead the delivery of Brand promise from the region by driving product excellence for the assigned categories.
- Deliver Accuracy, Completeness, and Timeliness in Product Development and Commercialization Process for all assigned categories.
- Facilitate direct development opportunities with key Suppliers and Home Office Teams.
- Develop, standardize, and continually improve processes related to commercialization.
- Act as the brand/category advocate in every interaction, proactively communicating the Category's needs & reinforcing overall Columbia Sportswear Company's expectations with vendors and internal partners.
- Build strong foundations with our partners to ensure beneficial long-term relationships.
- Ensure accuracy of performance scorecards data of each vendor to support Category Sourcing Managers in placing product with the right factories.
- Identify opportunities and constraints as it relates to achieving CSC and Category targets.
- Maintain visibility to category level performance metrics across all functions for the regional vendor base and drive continuous improvement.
- Execute seasonal category calendar as it relates to LO activities.
- Ensure adherence to deadlines through effective team and process management.
- Lead the sales sample buy ready process and enable full clarity of styles for quality sales sample production.
- Drive Profitability by continually seeking improvements and efficiencies for the category.
- Provide clear and concise information to stakeholders on seasonal costing to support decision making.
- Understand Corporate goals on Quality, Delivery, and SMP.
- Lead category team in completion of Buy Ready and Cut Ready process to enable 100% on-time delivery.
- Conduct quarterly/seasonal meetings with suppliers to review performance.
- Communicate roles and responsibilities and expectations for category merchandising team.
- Provide ongoing coaching to merchandising staff to achieve objectives.
- Manage Non-Performance with Courage.
- Network within the industry to keep abreast of latest developments in the Source base.
- Participate in cross-functional meetings to solve category needs and establish long-term process improvement with the vendor.
- Identify the appropriate training needed for people according to LO training program plan and people IDP.
Minimum Education/Experience
Requirements:
- University degree in Manufacturing, Business, or related field.
- 10-12 years relevant experience in production, merchandising, development or a manufacturing environment, preferably in the garment industry or related soft goods industry.
- Work experience related to the management of people and the sourcing and costing processes.
- Knowledge of the Apparel Manufacturing and its associated upstream and downstream business processes.
- Requires a well-developed ability to read, write, and speak English, in relation to topics of a highly complex or technical nature.
- Ability to lead in ambiguous situations and able to prioritize, organize, provide focus and direction to staff
Required Skills:
- Integrity and Trust
- Process & Project Management
- Customer Focus
- Business Acumen
- Functional/Technical Drive for Results
- Managing Vision & Purpose
- Communication Skills
- Developing Direct Reports
- Time Management
- Motivating Others
- Interpersonal Savviness
- Negotiation skills
- Influence skills
- Conflict management skills
- Conceptual thinking
- Forward Thinking
Preferred Skills: Requires a well-developed ability to read, write, and speak English, in relation to understanding and communicating highly complex or technical topics. Mental agility and emotional intelligence required to conduct complex business operations, manage interpersonal interactions of a complex and critical nature, develop and cultivate personal and professional relationships within and outside the company. Ability to work well with individuals of different countries and cultures.
