Business Director, Category
About The Position
The Business Director for the assigned category is a strategic captain of the entire product creation effort – leading a high-performing team of Product Line Managers (PLM), Designers and Developers to deliver breakthrough products that win the hearts of athletes and meet the financial goals of the business. This role will have P&L responsibility for the assigned category, driving the team to meet and exceed sales and margin targets. Sitting at the intersection of product innovation, commercial strategy and cross-functional alignment, the Business Director will turn market opportunities into world-class product assortments that build brand energy and deliver results.
Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree (or Master’s degree) in related field.
- A strong product management foundation is important for this role.
- 8-10+ years of experience in product management, preferably in leadership roles, with a track record of successfully managing and launching products.
- A solid understanding of product management tools and processes, including proficiency in agile methodologies, product lifecycle management, market research techniques, and data analysis.
- Strong strategic thinking skills and a solid understanding of business dynamics to align product initiatives with overall business objectives.
- Experience in building and managing high-performing product management teams, with business cases and metrics as proof of results.
- Strong communication skills, adaptable communication style for all settings, including the ability to confidently present to large groups.
- Exceptional time management and organizational skills for planning and executing both large and small projects and initiatives.
- Familiarity with consumer research, processes, and best practices.
- Intermediate/Advanced experience with Excel, including the ability to apply formulas to analyze data and trends.
- Intermediate/Advanced experience with the Microsoft Suite including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, & Teams.
Responsibilities
- Lead Category Vision: Set and drive the long-term vision, strategy and seasonal direction for assigned category. Champion product lines that are grounded in consumer insights, fuel innovation and support overall business objectives.
- P&L Ownership: Own financial results for assigned category. Deliver against annual revenue and margin targets. Collaborate with sales, finance and operations on forecasting, product costing, pricing and margin optimization
- Inspire & Manage Cross-Functional Team: Lead, mentor and empower team of PLMs, Designers and Developers. Set clear goals, provide regular coaching and ensure accountability across the product creation team.
- Drive Product Excellence: Oversee the product creation process form ideation through to go-to-market, ensuring the product briefs are consumer-informed and financially sound. Ensure the team brings to life meaningful products that athletes love and that perform in the marketplace.
- Category Line Architecture and Portfolio Strategy: Guide the product line architecture and seasonal line plans, ensuring balanced assortments across price points, consumer segments and channels. Maximize Lifecyle value and commercial success across regions.
- Go-to-Market Leadership: Lead Go-to-Market stage/gate process from strategy to launch ensuring alignment across the organization. Lead GTM “gate” meetings in partnership with commercial team.
- Global Leadership: Steer global strategy and create alignment across markets and build framework to support international growth.
- Strategic Influence & Communication: Represent the category in executive reviews, GTM meetings and leadership reviews. Clearly communicate category plans, product strategies and business performance to senior stakeholders.
- Other duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Number of Employees
501-1,000 employees
