Sports Category Manager: Own Licensing & Growth

Mixxos Group; Houghton Regis; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Mixxos Group, a growing sports equipment company, is seeking a commercially minded Category Manager to own product strategy and performance across own-brand and licensed ranges, working with design, sourcing, marketing and e-commerce to drive category growth.

The role involves managing licensing relationships, developing on-brand product ranges with factories, analyzing sales and margins, and steering category reviews from concept to launch.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Category Manager or similar commercial role.
• Experience managing licensed product ranges or brand partnerships.
• Strong commercial acumen, including cost, margin and pricing analysis.
• Excellent stakeholder management with internal and external partners.
• Comfortable working with e-commerce platforms such as Shopify.
• An interest in sport and sports merchandise is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Own the product roadmap and category strategy for allocated categories, from concept through to launch.
• Manage relationships with licensing partners (sports clubs, leagues, and entertainment brands) to develop compliant, on-brand product ranges.
• Work closely with design and sourcing teams to develop new products and improve existing ranges.
• Analyse sales performance, margin and market trends to inform category strategy and identify growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with the e-commerce team to ensure categories are effectively represented and merchandised online.
• Manage product lifecycle across the category, including range reviews, discontinuations, and new product introductions.
• Prepare and present concepts, mock-ups and category performance decks for internal sign-off, licensor approval and key retailer presentations.
• Work directly with factories on product specifications, technical drawings, pre-production and gold seal samples, and packaging proofs.

Skills

Category management experience

Licensing management

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

E-commerce familiarity

Shopify expertise

Tools

Shopify

Product data management

Job description

Mixxos Group, a growing sports equipment company, is seeking a commercially minded Category Manager to own product strategy and performance across own-brand and licensed ranges, working with design, sourcing, marketing and e-commerce to drive category growth.

The role involves managing licensing relationships, developing on-brand product ranges with factories, analyzing sales and margins, and steering category reviews from concept to launch.