Merchandise Manager, Bike

CSC Generation•Cottonwood Heights, UT

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Backcountry’s Bike category includes complete bikes, frames, and components across five banners: Bike Tires Direct, Backcountry, Competitive Cyclist, Steep & Cheap, and Marketplace. The Merchandise Manager, Bike drives the merchandising strategy and financial performance of the category, developing differentiated assortments and ensuring technically sound products for each banner’s customers. This role owns the open-to-buy budget, vendor relationships, and day-to-day buying decisions, while mentoring a team of buyers and junior merchants. It is a lean team with broad individual ownership and end-to-end responsibility. The role is based in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, with a hybrid schedule requiring three days per week in the office, and reports to the VP Merchandising Hardgoods. Success in the first 6–12 months includes building strong vendor partnerships that improve margin, tightening assortment accuracy across banners, and establishing the cadence and KPI framework used by the team. The role works closely with Planning, Marketing, Creative, vendors, and customer-facing teams to manage category performance, inventory, product information, and customer experience.

Requirements

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, including 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 products.
Willingness and ability to travel as needed.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field is preferred.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience in the bike industry, 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 across complete bikes, frames, and components for each banner.
Drive sales, margin, and inventory-turn goals across all channels and platforms.
Manage the Bike category open-to-buy budget across five banners.
Source and assess merchandise using market trends, component and build-kit compatibility, and historical sales data.
Build and maintain relationships with bike brands and component manufacturers; negotiate pricing, terms, key buys, and promotional windows.
Identify, evaluate, and onboard new vendors to strengthen supply and assortment.
Establish and enforce product quality standards with suppliers through collaboration and regular product checks.
Own SKU and purchase-order worksheets and purchase orders, including quantities, dollars, style allocation, and size/color breakouts.
Manage inventory flow through receipt plans, sell-through targets, reorder or reduction edits, and exit strategies for slow-moving products in partnership with Planning.
Use sales data, customer insights, and analytics to forecast demand and refine procurement plans.
Monitor category KPIs, evaluate vendor performance, and recommend actions to meet profitability targets.
Apply technical bike knowledge to ensure assortment compatibility and specification accuracy, and to support 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, support buyer development, and foster a collaborative work environment.
Travel as needed.