Sr Apparel Merchandising Product Manager
About The Position
Road Runner Sports is looking for a Sr. Apparel Product Manager to join our Merchandising team. This is a buyer-first, senior leadership role; you will own the full commercial lifecycle of your category from seasonal plan through final sell-through, lead a team of Product Managers and APMs, represent Road Runner Sports to key vendor executives, and make the buying decisions that shape what millions of runners and walkers discover in our stores and on our site. Your focus is on apparel and you will operate with strategic independence, develop your team, drive new category initiatives, and play a direct role in building the assortment that sets Road Runner Sports apart in the specialty running market. If you have deep product expertise, sharp commercial instincts, executive presence, and a genuine passion for the active lifestyle community, this role was built for you. About Us: Road Runner Sports is proud to have been recognized as the Footwear Retailer of the Year by Footwear Magazine Recipient of the Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for Ethics Founded in a San Diego garage over 42 years ago Road Runner Sports has 50 plus stores across the country, and we are growing! Our Values, Mission & Purpose (we call them Our 6 Pillars) are Be Different, Bring the WOW, Build Something Great Together, Get Moving, Stay Active, and Live Healthy
Requirements
- 5+ years of progressive experience in product management, buying, or merchandising in a specialty retail, athletic, or active lifestyle environment
- Proven track record of owning a category, commercially managing open-to-buy, building seasonal plans, and delivering against sales, margin, and inventory goals at scale
- Experience leading or mentoring a team of buyers or product managers
- The executive presence and communication skills to represent Road Runner Sports to senior vendor contacts and present seasonal strategy to company leadership
- Category-specific expertise in Apparel strongly preferred for the respective role
- Strong analytical skills, comfortable with sales data, margin analysis, financial planning, and building business cases
- Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
- A genuine passion for the running and active lifestyle community and a sharp eye for product, trend, and customer value
- Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Business, Marketing, or a related field
Responsibilities
- Own the seasonal assortment plan for the apparel category from initial buys and open-to-buy management through markdowns, exit strategies, and quarterly business reviews presented to executive leadership
- Represent Road Runner Sports to key vendor executives, building strategic vendor partnerships, negotiating pricing, terms, and co-op, and holding partners accountable to quality and delivery
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Product Managers, Assistant Product Managers, and Merchandising Assistants by setting goals, coaching performance, and building a team that executes at a high level
- Drive category innovation by staying ahead of market trends, identifying new product opportunities, and bringing forward ideas that keep Road Runner Sports' assortment differentiated and relevant
- Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, E-commerce, Visual Merchandising, and Retail Operations to drive product launches, key item campaigns, and category presentation across all channels
- Travel to trade shows, vendor locations, and retail stores to stay ahead of the market and support the business
Benefits
- Competitive pay
- Discounts on gear and footwear
- Free running and walking events
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
