Senior Category Manager - Teamwear

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 massmarket 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 to develop 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 business success.

Roles & Responsibilities

Delivering a coherent range strategy and architecture with cost & price positioning that drives both brand equity and volume across our Stock Stock & Embellishment and MTO product ranges

Deliver against business KPIs (volume margin quality etc)

Support the relevant route to market options for the Teamwear channel

Creation and management of line lists/ presentations/ development systems

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.

Work with key Commercial stakeholders both internally and externally to understand the evolving Teamwear requirements

Conduct market trend competitor and consumer research and gain product feedback

Act as a the custodian of Teamwear product feedback to ensure data and insight driven improvement is continually delivered

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

Deliver accurate seasonal forecasting at category/style/colour level

Input into ongoing strategic business merchandising & planning processes

Own the Teamwear product lifecycle strategy

Support the development of the ongoing Teamwear strategic sourcing strategy

Establish and maintain effective relationships with key Teamwear vendors MTO partners in particular

Lead a team 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.

Lead the Teamwear Design and Development team

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

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 fastpaced and everchanging business environment

A great leader to 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 TVs

A chance to build a career with a fast paced high growth brand

Employee assistance programme

Generous staff discount