Smartwool Global Apparel PLM

Smartwool Go Far. Feel Good. Smartwool is a brand that revels in the joy of the outdoors—taking inspiration from our communities to create innovative, refined Merino wool products that bring comfort and confidence to everyday adventures. While we pride ourselves in bringing comfort to the outdoors, we also strive to bring purpose and community to our work through our unique values of openness, inclusivity, advocacy, action, and fun-loving.

Title:  Product Line Manager

The Product Line Manager (PLM) is ultimately responsible for the global merchandising and product strategy for the global Smartwool apparel product line. This person plans and briefs a product line that is focused on meeting and exceeding the needs of the consumer, creating commercially compelling lines, drives the brand forward and manages to the business goals of the line for revenue, margin and SKU efficiency. This person assesses the business opportunities and leads the product process to execute the right product at the right price at the right time. 

This position requires the ability to inspire Go To Market (GTM) partners and other product creation shareholders. The PLM is responsible for the seasonal direction and execution of the Smartwool global apparel line on a style and color level. In conjunction with the Merchandising Director, the PLM provides leadership for the GTM teams as the consumer, market and business expert while monitoring the process through ongoing interaction with internal and external cross-functional teams. From brief to commercialization, the PLM provides product, consumer, business and market expertise while ensuring key product creation calendar milestones are met.  With expert level thinking, communication and heavy emphasis on story telling and presentation skills, the PLM fosters a highly collaborative work relationship with Design, Development, Sales, Marketing, Operations and other key internal and external stakeholders.

How you will elevate the brand:

Build smart natural performance products that ignite transformative moments for athletes and adventurers everyday. Drive the product strategy and lead the merchandising responsibilities through the product creation process to achieve revenue and margin targets with the most efficient product line possible.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic apparel category product planning to deliver product solutions that enhance the brand and meet the needs of consumers globally.
• Prepare a consumer compelling product line strategy and pricing through the formulation of product briefs that meet revenue and margin targets.
• Build & maintain accuracy of seasonal product plans &/or briefing tool up until seasonal VLP is created. 
• Lead the merch function representing the apparel category in the Seasonal Creative process, culminating in documenting the seasonal line plan and creating product briefs.
• Partner with Merch partners in SWAT and SMU intros to plan a comprehensive global apparel presentation.
• Deliver clear and concise product direction to design and development teams through briefing and the product creation process.
• Create and deliver compelling and inspirational sales meeting, tradeshow and key account product presentations
• Focus on story telling.   Plan, create, and merchandise the product line to ensure an intuitive presentation of technologies and aesthetics that align with seasonal stories and trends. 
• Manage an efficient and profitable line that drives seasonal revenue targets. Build tightest possible line to best use design/development resources, maximize supply chain agility and achieve SKU productivity/margin goals. Develop, maintain and communicate line metrics.
• Partner with Demand Planning to generate initial seasonal style level forecasts.
• Carry out regular market visits and attend relevant trade shows. Solicit input and feedback related to products.
• Engage with wholesale and digital partners domestically and internationally to achieve a high level of market knowledge
• Be the consumer expert and mine consumer insights (both research and reviews) to inform, continuously improve and validate product direction
• Be the category expert on the competitive landscape.   Know market competitors including their respective positioning, price points, products and market share, build and maintains timely and accurate line tools.  
• Leads the merchandising vision for the category including assortment planning and packaging.

Skills for Success:

Business/Management

• People leader
• Continuous Improvement
• Customer focus
• Data and intuitive decision making
• Consumer insight, consumer review and market monitoring to drive action
• Research, planning and organizing

Interpersonal

• Building partnerships & collaborative working style
• Communication
• Drive for team success
• Gaining commitment
• Leveraging cultural diversity

Personal Attributes

• Adaptability
• Continuous learning
• Drive for results
• Innovative mindset

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Retail Merchandising/Buying or related field
• 7+ years in product management or merchandising role
• Retail buying and merchandising experience a plus
• Strong verbal & written communication, problem solving & analytical skills required 
• Strong presentation skills
• Demonstrated leadership capability, including ability to motivate and mentor others.
• Excellent interpersonal skills that inspire, influence, and build trust resulting in effective working relationships with internal and external partners
• Ability to anticipate how decisions can affect our customers, partners, products or other depts.
• Creativity and passion for product
• Innovative mindset and past successes in introducing new categories, technologies, product solutions.
• Must be detail oriented, resourceful, self-motivated, and proactive
• Must be adept at handling multiple priorities and time sensitivities
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally (20%)
• MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint required
• Business acumen, understanding of retail math and understanding of how specific inputs impact the business
• Adobe Illustrator proficiency preferred

Special Physical Requirements:

• Ability to travel
• Long periods of sitting and standing

The application deadline for this position is February 25, 2025.

Hiring Range:

Incentive Potential: This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Specific details of the additional compensation eligibility for this position will be provided during the recruiting and interview process.

Benefits at VF Corporation: You can review a general overview of each benefit program offered, including this year’s medical plan rates on www.MyVFbenefits.com  and by clicking Looking to Join VF? Detailed information on your benefits will be provided during the hiring process.

Please note, our hiring ranges are determined and built from market pay data. In determining the specific compensation for this position, we comply with all local, state, and federal laws.

At VF, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws.  If you are unable to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at [email protected]. VF will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent required by applicable law.

Pursuant to all applicable local Fair Chance Ordinance requirements, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, VF will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.