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; understand the closeout buys have to be done at the end of the season to secure product that won’t be available once retailers have committed to the inventory. Partner with Inventory Planning and Finance to align on OTB and receipt timing and payment structure of the buys. 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, frequent 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 and cannot be recaptured once the window closes 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 the most advanced AI tools in the market. From automation to prompt engineering, you’ll build a modern tech stack that sets you apart in any industry. Accelerated Career Path: High performers are quickly en