Divisional Merchandise Manager, Ski & Snow Hardgoods

CSC Generation•Cottonwood Heights, UT

12d

About The Position

At Backcountry, our mission is to connect people to their passions. Our four online stores—Backcountry, Competitive Cyclist, MotoSport and, SteepandCheap—aim to supply our customers with the gear, knowledge, and inspiration necessary to get out there and chase down life’s greatest moments. We do this by providing the biggest and best assortment of premium outdoor products, superior shopping experience, personalized Gearhead expertise, lightning-fast and accurate fulfillment, and inspirational, informative, and community-centered content. As Divisional Merchandise Manager, Ski & Snow Hardgoods , you will define and lead the strategy for one of Backcountry’s most critical and passion-driven categories. You’ll own the end-to-end category vision across resort ski, backcountry/touring, and snowboard, ensuring we deliver differentiated assortments, compelling customer experiences, and strong financial performance in a highly seasonal business. This role requires a leader who blends deep industry expertise, global market awareness, and sharp commercial instincts. This position will report into the VP, Merchandising Hardgoods.

Requirements

Deep expertise in ski and snowboard hardgoods, with a strong point of view on product and trends
Strong understanding of the global snow market, vendor landscape, and brand ecosystem
Proven ability to translate regional nuances (East vs. West, Resort vs. Backcountry) into winning strategies
Extensive experience managing highly seasonal businesses, including lifecycle and inventory planning
Demonstrated success building assortments across multiple price tiers and customer expertise levels
Experience across full-price, off-price, and closeout channels, with a focus on end-of-season optimization
Background in retail service models, including demo fleets and rental strategies
Experience developing SMUs, exclusives, and differentiated assortment programs
Strong track record of building strategic brand partnerships and vendor relationships
Understanding of adjacent categories including snow accessories, travel, and gear ecosystems
Proven ability to influence the full customer journey and drive metrics like UPT and conversion
Experience leading and developing high-performing teams
Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with Inventory Planning, Finance, and Digital teams to align assortment decisions with OTB, margin targets, and digital performance
Deep familiarity with ski industry vendor dating programs and off-price buying windows; understands that end-of-season closeout commitments are time-sensitive and cannot be recaptured once the window closes
Analytical fluency with sell-through analysis, conversion metrics, and demand forecasting to drive confident, data-informed buy decisions

Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Market Leadership Define and execute a multi-year strategy across ski, snowboard, and backcountry hardgoods Leverage a strong understanding of the global vendor and brand landscape to identify opportunities and trends Translate regional customer needs (e.g., East vs. West mountains) into assortment strategies Drive top-line growth, gross margin, sell-through rate, and inventory productivity in partnership with Inventory Planning and Finance
Assortment & Lifecycle Management Build tiered assortments that serve multiple customer segments across price points and expertise levels Curate a balanced mix of full-price, off-price, and closeout product to maximize lifecycle value Lead end-of-season closeout buying strategies to optimize turns and minimize risk; understand the closeout buys have to be done at the end of the season to secure product that won’t be available once retailers have committed to the inventory. Partner with Inventory Planning and Finance to align on OTB and receipt timing and payment structure of the buys. Ensure assortments drive units per transaction (UPT) through thoughtful cross-category integration
Vendor Strategy & Differentiation Develop and deepen strategic partnerships with key ski and snow brands through on-site vendor meetings, frequent business reviews, product testing, and new product reviews. Lead business development initiatives with vendors to unlock exclusive opportunities Create SMUs and exclusive assortments that differentiate Backcountry from competitors Maintain a strong pulse on competitive positioning and brand strategies
Retail & Customer Experience Champion end-to-end customer journey across digital and retail touchpoints Partner with teams to build and scale demo fleet and seasonal rental programs Ensure seamless integration of hardgoods with accessories, travel gear, and related categories
Cross-Functional Partnerships Partner closely with Inventory Planning to align open-to-buy, manage receipt flow, and optimize in-season reorder and markdown decisions across a highly seasonal business Collaborate with Finance, Marketing, and Digital/UX teams to align category investments with financial targets, campaign timing, and on-site merchandising execution Leverage sell-through data, digital conversion metrics, and customer demand signals to inform assortment decisions, identify risk, and surface opportunities in real time
Team Leadership Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing merchandising team Establish clear goals aligned to business outcomes and hold teams accountable Foster a culture of ownership, innovation, and continuous improvement