27 Oct
Castore
Leeds
Job description
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.
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.
The Role
As Senior Category Manager for Teamwear you will drive the Teamwear opportunity by developing and delivering a clear product range & strategy to Teamwear markets and channels.
To lead a team across design & development who continually develop, enhance and refine a product range that delivers against the business and customer requirements in terms of margin, quality, design, performance and range efficiency.
Play a leading role in the development and delivery of the GTM (Go To Market)
plan for Teamwear across all distribution channels, ensuring category and business success.
The role is a critical link between understanding the consumer and the customer needs and translating that into a product strategy for the product function to deliver against.
Responsibilities
- Deliver a coherent range strategy and architecture with cost & price positioning that drives both brand equity and volume across our Stock, Stock & Embellishment and MTO (Made to Order / Bespoke) product ranges.
- Conduct market, trend, competitor and consumer research in order to drive product strategy.
- Act as the custodian of Teamwear product feedback to ensure data and insight driven improvement is continually delivered.
- Lead the Teamwear Design and Development teams who are collectively responsible for the design and development of on trend, performance driven teamwear products and ranges.
- Create, communicate and brief new product ideas for category growth with Teamwear Design & Product Development teams.
- Own the Teamwear product lifecycle strategy
- Play a pivotal role in creating our strategic sourcing plans for Teamwear in order to deliver product requirements.
- Establish and maintain effective relationships with key Teamwear vendors, MTO partners in particular
- Creation and management of line lists / presentations / development systems that support the product function and wider business with Product data.
- Own and lead end to end Teamwear critical path timelines cross functionally working with other category teams to identify synergies, efficiencies and joint ways of working.
- Deliver accurate seasonal forecasting at category / style / colour level
- Input into ongoing strategic business merchandising & planning processes
- Establish effective relationships with markets, customers and key team members across internal functions to ensure all product queries, requirements and feedback are dealt with efficiently and effectively
- Work with key Commercial stakeholders, both internally and externally to understand the evolving Teamwear requirements and to present our ranges to them in key commercial meetings.
Skills & Qualities
Skills and Experience :
- Proven Category Management background preferably in Teamwear
- Credible knowledge of Teamwear trends and market dynamics
- General technical product knowledge, teamwear preferable
- Expertise and / or interest in sports and teamwear is preferable
- Demonstratable experience in building and delivering quality, fit for purpose and profitable product ranges
- Ability to deliver impactful strategy and range presentations to large audiences
- Excellent analytical skills and highly proficient in Excel and other analytical tools.
- Ability to work to tight deadlines to meet all NPD & Merchandising milestones
- Ability to work within strict deadlines and able to be adaptive to changes
- Comfortable in a fast-paced and ever-changing business environment
- A great leader of people
Personal Qualities :
- High initiative, high energy, passionate, decisive, eye for detail,
confident
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Succinct communication style
- Someone who listens to understand
- 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
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
- Modern city centre offices in Manchester
- An opportunity to work with global sporting partners
- Office breakout space with pool tables, dart board and TV’s
- A chance to build a career with a fast paced, high growth brand
- Generous staff discount
▶️ Senior Category Manager
🖊️ Castore
📍 Leeds