Overview Backcountry connects people to their passions through four online stores—Backcountry, Competitive Cyclist, MotoSport and SteepandCheap—aiming to supply gear, knowledge, and inspiration for customers to pursue life’s greatest moments. The company provides a large assortment of premium outdoor products, a superior shopping experience, Gearhead expertise, fast fulfillment, and community-centered content. Divisional Merchandise Manager, Ski & Snow Hardgoods will define and lead the strategy for one of Backcountry’s most critical categories. You’ll own the end-to-end category vision across resort ski, backcountry/touring, and snowboard, ensuring differentiated assortments, compelling customer experiences, and strong financial performance in a highly seasonal business. This role requires a leader with deep industry expertise, global market awareness, and sharp commercial instincts. This position reports to the VP, Merchandising Hardgoods. What you get to do every day: 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; coordinate with Inventory Planning and Finance on open-to-buy and receipt timing 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, 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 What you bring to the role: 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 Analytical fluency with sell-through analysis, conversion metrics, and demand forecasting to drive confident, data-informed buy decisions What’s in it for you? Joining Backcountry isn’t just about having a seat at the table—it’s about helping redesign the table entirely. You’ll be challenged, stretched, and supported as you grow faster than you thought possible. In addition to competitive compensation, we offer: Executive Access: Work directly with brand CEOs and senior leadership, solving real business problems and earning mentorship from top operators. AI-First Skill Building: Get hands-on with AI tools. Build a modern tech stack that sets you apart in any industry. Accelerated Career Path: High performers are quickly entrusted with greater responsibility, new challenges, and leadership opportunities across our portfolio of brands. Competitive benefits: PTO, 401(k)/RRSP match, medical/dental/vision and other policies, plus employee discounts Our interview process We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process. Final hiring decisions are made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us. Step 1: If you align with our vision and meet the qualifications, we’ll reach out to schedule a conversation. Step 2: Complete an AI or product-building challenge. Step 3: Participate in deep-dive interviews with Backcountry leadership. Step 4: Offer. We’ll move fast for the right candidate. The CSC family of brands provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. The CSC family of brands is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact (email protected) We may use AI tools to support parts of the hiring process. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us. #J-18808-Ljbffr