Senior Category Manager - Mainline

Castore exists for one single reason – to make athletes better. Our ethos is built upon the philosophy of BETTER NEVER STOPS, an ideal deeply infused in our DNA and something we strive to live every single day. We utilise advanced engineering and unique technical fabrics to create the highest quality sportswear in the world for athletes who demand the very best. Designed with a passion for innovation with specialist features to help to optimise athletic performance in all conditions.

The founders’ vision is to build Castore into a brand respected across the globe for a deep and unrelenting commitment to engineering the highest quality sportswear in the world, with no stone left unturned in its search for innovation and performance enhancement.

The sportswear market has been dominated by a small clique of mass-market brands and the vision is for Castore to be a premium alternative to these, the natural brand of choice for discerning athletes who demand the very best.

What’s the Job?

As Senior Category Manager you will drive the Mainline opportunity across EMEA, delivering a clear strategy & range to the market and channels.

To Develop and drive the GTM (Go To Market) plan for Mainline across all distribution channels, ensuring category business success.

What will I do?

• Delivering a coherent range strategy and architecture with a price positioning that drives both brand equity and volume
• Deliver against business KPI’s (volume, margin and efficiency)
• Implement a DTC complemented by wholesale mindset
• Input into ongoing strategic business merchandising processes
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with key members across functions
• Create, communicate and brief new product ideas for category growth with Design & Product Development teams
• Work seasonally with key accounts to brief and deliver impactful and engaging SMU opportunities
• Conduct market, trend, competitor and consumer research and gain product feedback
• Establish strong relationships with markets and following up on them to ensure all product queries, requirements and feedback are dealt with efficiently and effectively
• Present with impact at internal sales meetings as well as in select key account meetings
• Delivery accurate seasonal forecasting at category/model/style level
• Reporting of category developments to senior management as and when required
• Creation and management of line lists/ presentations/ merchandising systems/ development systems
• Carry out go to market plan ensuring critical path timelines cross functionally.
  

What skills and qualities will I need?

Skills and Experience:

• Proven Category Management or Product Merchandising background
• Credible knowledge of EMEA consumer trends and market dynamics
• Knowledge of EMEA retail environment
• Ability to build and deliver impactful strategy and range presentations to large audiences
• Strong analytical skills
• Ability to work to tight deadlines to meet all erchandising/development milestones

• Ability to work within strict deadlines and able to be adaptive to changes
• Comfortable in a fast-paced and ever-changing business environment

Personal Qualities:

• High initiative, high energy, passionate, decisive, eye for detail, confident
• Strong interpersonal skills. Open communication/good listening skills
• General technical product knowledge
• Expertise and/or interest in lifestyle and/or fashion.

• Confidence in own ability to challenge current ways of working, whilst delivering recommendations for improved process
• Be a team player
• Be results driven
• Share our ambitious outlook
• Have a Better Never Stops Attitude

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• Modern city centre offices in Manchester
• An opportunity to work with global sporting partners
• Office and breakout space with pool tables, dart board and TVs
• A chance to build a career with a fast paced, high growth brand