Category Business Manager - Hardgoods (12 Month Contract)

Sportchek; Calgary; On-site; CAD 56,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career growth opportunities

Product discounts

Job summary

Sport Chek in Calgary seeks a Category Business Manager to own category strategy, assortment curation, and promotional planning across in-store and digital channels. Drive sales, margins, and inventory targets through cross-functional leadership and data-driven decisions.

You will analyze product trends, manage Open-to-Buy, and collaborate with vendors and internal teams to deliver customer-focused assortments and innovative campaigns.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in retail in a merchandising/buying/analytical role.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate, influence, and negotiate with colleagues and business members/management.
• Strong presentation skills with ability to adjust style for the audience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement business plans for merchandise categories including analysis of sales, industry trends, building product sales projections, validation of margin targets, inventory levels, and stock turn levels.
• Collaborate with Financial Planners to ensure financial plans align with category strategy.
• Develop and implement assortment plans including store and market analysis, vendor reviews, and initial store inventory levels.
• Oversees purchase order status and resolution of shipping issues with distribution centers and suppliers.
• Own and manage the category Open-to-Buy and inventory productivity, including analysis of product and store sales, inventory sell through, and receipts.
• Analyze performance by style, react to trends and opportunities.
• Oversee stock levels to support Merchandising Allocator in driving sales and profitability.
• Create, manage, and communicate advertising support for traditional and digital media, and collaborate on social engagement strategies.

Skills

Retail experience

Negotiation

Presentation skills

Market knowledge

Inventory proficiency

Adaptability

Time management

Entrepreneurial mindset

Job description

What You’ll Do

Reporting to the AVP, the Category Business Manager is the key leader in the Merchandising Strategic Business Unit (SBU). Operating as the business owner for the category, within established policies, procedures, and FGL business goals, the Category Business Manager, is responsible for the selection, purchase, and allocation of product to achieve category sales, margin and inventory turnover targets. The Category Manager plays a leadership role in driving sales performance through the development and implementation of assortment, allocation and marketing strategies across both in-store and digital channels.

Our Merchandising team is responsible for connecting our quality products and services with our customers. The team uses planning and forecasting frameworks and tools to ensure optimal financial results.

The Category Business Manager is responsible for the curation of product assortments, marketing initiatives and promotional strategy. Development and implementation of the category plans, to effectively deliver and achieve the financial objectives related to the category and the management of inventory targets and deliveries. Our best Category Business Managers are SMEs (subject-matter-experts) who connect well with all key stakeholders and are committed to better understanding our customers by analyzing product, industry and customer data to evolve their merchandising category and enhance the overall customer experience.

To excel as an Category Business Manager, you’ll be able to integrate and align to the various cross-functional teams to conduct line reviews, support vendor negotiations and to create customer centric assortments. As an industry expert you will be actively identifying product and market trends within their associated lifecycles, owning product lifecycle decisions and influencing innovation pipelines, leading to your continuous advocacy for innovation and growth within the category.

• Develop and implement business plans for merchandise categories including analysis of sales, industry trends, building product sales projections, validation of margin targets, inventory levels, and stock turn levels
• Collaborate with Financial Planners to ensure financial plans align with category strategy
• Develop and implement assortment plans including the following: store and market analysis, product line reviews with vendors, selection of programs for various banners, establishment of initial store inventory levels, strategic price setting to balance competitiveness and margin, price negotiation, and confirmation of retail pricing
• Oversees purchase order status including preparation, recording, and tracking of purchase orders as well as the resolution of shipping issues with distribution centers and suppliers
• Own and manage the category Open-to-Buy and inventory productivity, including analysis of product and store sales, inventory sell through, and receipts
• Analyze performance by style, react to trends and opportunities
• Oversee assessment of store inventory levels to provide the Merchandising Allocator support in driving sales and profitability, through the effective management of back stock and in-store inventory
• Create, manage, and communicate advertising support for both traditional and digital media. Collaborate with the social marketing team to create social engagement strategies for categories
• Be a Sport Chek ambassador. Speak knowledgably regarding the Sport Chek story, strategic plan, and direction
• Build and maintain positive relationships with internal and external partners
• Lead and influence cross-functional partners to deliver category strategies and initiatives
• Negotiate policy agreements including discounts, payment and freight terms, volume rebates, brand development, co-op advertising and TRM extra project funds
• Collaborate with the consumer brands division to develop private label products, support retail price point conversation, and approve samples
• Develop and implement seasonal and annual category strategies
• Conduct market tours of Sport Chek and competitive retail with the intent to drive continual improvement

What You Bring

• You have 5+ years of experience in retail in a merchandising/buying/analytical role, or similar role
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate, influence, and negotiate with colleagues and business members / management
• Strong presentation skills with demonstrated ability to adjust style and format as required to suit the audience
• Marketplace knowledge within the sportswear, lifestyle team sports, and outdoor industries, would be an advantage
• Demonstrated proficiency in inventory practices with an understanding of their financial and operational impacts
• The ability to challenge and voice concerns, as well as be very adaptable and flexible in a dynamic retail environment
• Time management and planning skills
• Work with a sense of urgency and take extreme ownership
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to manage complexity and adapt in a fast-paced retail environment

We’re always looking for great talent! In addition to competitive pay, we offer:

• Career growth opportunities and product discounts

Broadband Salary Range

$41.00 – $67.00 CAD.

Our typical hiring range is between $41.00 - $54.00 CAD Hourly. Hourly decisions are also dependent on other factors such as your experience, job-related knowledge, skills and competencies, market location, industry benchmarks, internal equity and other role-specific requirements.

This posting represents an existing vacancy within our organization.

We may use artificial intelligence tools as part of our recruitment process to assist in the initial screening of resumes. All hiring decisions, including candidate evaluation, selection, and disposition, are made by human recruiters.

About Us

At Sport Chek, we want to find what moves you, and help build your career from there. As Canada’s destination for footwear, apparel, and sporting goods; we believe that sport and activity has the power to help shape your style, your relationships, and your mind. Along with colleagues across the Canadian Tire family of companies, you’ll be a part of a collaborative network of like-minded individuals who draw on their collective experience to best serve customers across all banners from coast-to-coast. Join us, where there’s a place for you here.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging

We are committed to fostering an environment where belonging thrives, and diversity, inclusion and equity are infused into everything we do. We believe in building an organizational culture where people are consistently treated with dignity while respecting individual religion, nationality, gender, race, age, perceived ability, spoken language, sexual orientation, and identification. We are united in our purpose of being here to help make life in Canada better.

Accommodations

We stand firm in our Core Value that inclusion is a must. We welcome and encourage candidates from equity-seeking groups such as people who identify as racialized, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, women, people with disabilities, and beyond. Should you require any accommodation in applying for this role, or throughout the interview process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to help meet your needs.