About the roleAs Divisional Merchandise Manager, Ski & Snow Hardgoods, you will define and lead the strategy for one of Backcountry’s most critical and passion-driven categories. You’ll own the end-to-end category vision across resort ski, backcountry/touring, and snowboard, ensuring we deliver differentiated assortments, compelling customer experiences, and strong financial performance in a highly seasonal business. This role reports into the VP, Merchandising Hardgoods.What you get to do every day:Category Strategy & Market LeadershipDefine and execute a multi-year strategy across ski, snowboard, and backcountry hardgoodsLeverage a strong understanding of the global vendor and brand landscape to identify opportunities and trendsTranslate regional customer needs (e.g., East vs. West mountains) into assortment strategiesDrive top-line growth, gross margin, sell-through rate, and inventory productivity in partnership with Inventory Planning and FinanceAssortment & Lifecycle ManagementBuild tiered assortments that serve multiple customer segments across price points and expertise levelsCurate a balanced mix of full-price, off-price, and closeout product to maximize lifecycle valueLead 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 integrationVendor Strategy & DifferentiationDevelop and deepen strategic partnerships with key ski and snow brands through on-site vendor meetings, frequent business reviews, product testing, and new product reviewsLead business development initiatives with vendors to unlock exclusive opportunitiesCreate SMUs and exclusive assortments that differentiate Backcountry from competitorsMaintain a strong pulse on competitive positioning and brand strategiesRetail & Customer ExperienceChampion end-to-end customer journey across digital and retail touchpointsPartner with teams to build and scale demo fleet and seasonal rental programsEnsure seamless integration of hardgoods with accessories, travel gear, and related categoriesCross-Functional PartnershipsPartner closely with Inventory Planning to align open-to-buy, manage receipt flow, and optimize in-season reorder and markdown decisions across a highly seasonal businessCollaborate with Finance, Marketing, and Digital/UX teams to align category investments with financial targets, campaign timing, and on-site merchandising executionLeverage sell-through data, digital conversion metrics, and customer demand signals to inform assortment decisions, identify risk, and surface opportunities in real timeTeam LeadershipLead, coach, and develop a high-performing merchandising teamEstablish clear goals aligned to business outcomes and hold teams accountableFoster a culture of ownership, innovation, and continuous improvementWhat you bring to the role:Deep expertise in ski and snowboard hardgoods, with a strong point of view on product and trendsStrong understanding of the global snow market, vendor landscape, and brand ecosystemProven ability to translate regional nuances (East vs. West, Resort vs. Backcountry) into winning strategiesExtensive experience managing highly seasonal businesses, including lifecycle and inventory planningDemonstrated success building assortments across multiple price tiers and customer expertise levelsExperience across full-price, off-price, and closeout channels, with a focus on end-of-season optimizationBackground in retail service models, including demo fleets and rental strategiesExperience developing SMUs, exclusives, and differentiated assortment programsStrong track record of building strategic brand partnerships and vendor relationshipsUnderstanding of adjacent categories including snow accessories, travel, and gear ecosystemsProven ability to influence the full customer journey and drive metrics like UPT and conversionExperience leading and developing high-performing teamsDemonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with Inventory Planning, Finance, and Digital teams to align assortment decisions with OTB, margin targets, and digital performanceDeep 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 closesAnalytical fluency with sell-through analysis, conversion metrics, and demand forecasting to drive confident, data-informed buy decisionsWhat’s in it for you?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 advanced AI tools, from automation to prompt engineering, and build a modern tech stack.Accelerated Career Path: High performers are quickly entrusted with greater responsibility, new challenges, and leadership opportunities across the brand portfolio.Competitive benefits: Paid time off policies, 401(k)/RRSP match, medical/dental/vision, supplemental policies, and employee discounts at portfolio companies.
