Merchandise Manager, Bike

CSC Generation

9d•Remote

About The Position

Backcountry’s Merchandise Manager, Bike owns merchandising strategy and financial performance for the Bike category across five banners: Bike Tires Direct, Backcountry, Competitive Cyclist, Steep & Cheap, and Marketplace. The role is responsible for differentiated assortments and technically sound products tailored to each banner’s customers, including complete bikes, frames, and components. The manager owns the open-to-buy budget, vendor relationships, and day-to-day buying decisions, while mentoring a team of buyers and junior merchants. The position is described as a lean-team role with substantial end-to-end ownership and a fast pace. Success in the first 6–12 months includes building strong vendor partnerships that improve margin, improving assortment accuracy across banners, and establishing the team’s operating cadence and KPI framework. The role is remote in the United States, with a preference for candidates in the Mountain or Pacific Time Zone. It reports to the VP Merchandising Hardgoods. The manager works with Planning, Marketing, Creative, vendors, and customer-facing teams to manage budgets, inventory, forecasts, promotions, category content, and customer experience. Travel may be required as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree; Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field is preferred.
10+ years of experience in retail buying or merchandising, with a track record in strategic sourcing, vendor management, and e-commerce.
Hands-on technical knowledge of bikes, frames, and components, including drivetrains, groupsets, brake systems, wheel/tire standards, suspension, cockpit/contact points, frame geometry, and materials; ability to evaluate cross-component and build-kit compatibility.
Deep understanding of the cycling and outdoor retail market, customer preferences, and industry dynamics.
Experience in inventory management, demand forecasting, and procurement optimization.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated negotiation ability.
Firm understanding of retail math and merchandising fundamentals.
Excellent organization, attention to detail, and time management.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and ability to collaborate across functions.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and advanced Excel skills; experience with purchasing software and systems.
Working knowledge of AI tools and their practical application in merchandising workflows, such as demand forecasting, assortment planning, and trend analysis.
Genuine passion for cycling and Backcountry’s products.
Willingness and ability to travel as needed.

Nice To Haves

Direct bike-industry experience, including relationships with major bike and component brands.
Experience managing or mentoring a buying team.
Familiarity with marketplace merchandising alongside owned-inventory channels.

Responsibilities

Execute merchandising and sourcing plans for complete bikes, frames, and components across each banner.
Drive sales, margin, and inventory-turn goals across channels and platforms.
Manage the Bike open-to-buy budget across Bike Tires Direct, Backcountry, Competitive Cyclist, Steep & Cheap, and Marketplace.
Source and assess merchandise using market trends, component and build-kit compatibility, and historical selling data.
Build and maintain relationships with bike brands and component manufacturers; negotiate pricing, terms, key buys, and promotional windows to maximize gross margin.
Identify, evaluate, and onboard new vendors to strengthen the supply chain and assortment.
Establish and enforce quality standards in collaboration with suppliers, including regular product quality checks.
Own SKU/PO worksheets and purchase orders, including quantities, dollar amounts, style allocations, and size/color breakouts, under tight deadlines.
Manage inventory flow through receipt plans, sell-through targets, re-order or reduction edits, and coordination with Planning on exit strategies for slow-moving products.
Use sales data, customer insights, and analytics to forecast demand and refine procurement plans.
Monitor category KPIs, assess vendor performance, and recommend actions to achieve profitability targets.
Apply technical bike knowledge to ensure assortment compatibility and spec accuracy, and provide informed support to vendors, Planning, and customer-facing teams.
Maintain category content standards, visual merchandising, and taxonomy to improve conversion.
Partner with Planning on budgets, forecasting, and KPI reporting; collaborate with Marketing and Creative on promotions, campaigns, and selling strategy.
Guide and mentor the Bike buying team, develop buyers, and foster a collaborative work environment.