Apparel Category Mgr

The Category Manager at Fanatics Brands is responsible for managing the business, financial, licensing approvals, and line plans for an assigned brand, league, or category. Business lead for cross-functional teams in planning, design, development, and sourcing, as well as the main product contact for our designated league partners. Responsible for leading the cross functional team to achieve category financial objectives and growth with respect to revenue, margins/profitability, and adoption.

GENERAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• In cooperation with Sr. Management, lead and facilitate effective strategies to mitigate risk, maintain continuity of operations
• Ownership of category margins and ultimate business portfolio management, including but not limited to regional pricing, SKU management.
• Creating product strategy and brand positioning and management of short and long-term Fanatics Brands initiatives by category
• Managing a Apparel team to be global, omni channel, product and competitor focused in an innovative, fast, and team-oriented environment
• Knowledgeable on trends, consumer insights, marketplace, and competitive landscape
• Knowledgeable on our league specific product creation and rights and potential
• Develop and maintain strong cross-functional relationships with development, design, sourcing, and planning to deliver margin and adoption rate goals
• Support channel segmentation strategy in partnership with Sales
• Effective communicator and presenter to management, leagues, teams, retailers
• Relevant trade show management and presentations
• Partner with planning team on business plans, financial planning, and analysis to track and define key business opportunities
• Line/Range planning, with an understanding of a finished and blank inventory, for chase, custom, and seasonal fashion
• Analyze and manage style/SKU productivity (gender, style, size, color, units, lifespan, AUR, category margins, MSRP's)
• Partner with Merchandise Planning, Design, Development, Production Planning, Operations, and Sourcing
• Partner on the product commercialization process, timelines, specific and weighted margins, profitability, final range adoption process
• Develop and support growth of team members in areas like presentation, process, and culture
• Lead and develop a small team of merchants, supporting, mentoring team members with presentation, process, and culture
• Possible travel, including overseas, account and league reviews

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Apparel, Merchandising, or comparable graduation from a textile school; an equivalent level of work experience (8-10 years) is acceptable with a strong understanding of the product creation process

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• 6 plus years of progressive experience specializing in apparel or fashion-related experience in retail buying, or management
• Minimum 2 years of people management experience
• Proven manager of people, timelines, and process with ability to identify, acquire, and grow talent as well as motivate, mentor, and develop high performing teams
• Drive for great product and able to communicate vision and bring to reality
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills – visual, written, and verbal
• Ability to network, gain trust with co-workers, open to new ideas, work with multiple personalities and competing agendas, and can deliver a decision in a professional manner
• Project management and problem solving - identify and resolve problems in a creative, collaborative, and timely manner with a view of the big picture and making difficult decisions
• Maintain a professional and positive attitude towards the team, vendors, and clients
• Experience with Microsoft Applications such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel and can learn and use product/project management software
• Strong understanding of merchandising retail math/financial skills
• Knowledge and understanding of global retail and consumer trends
• Knowledge and/or passion for sports
• Ability to travel up to 35%