Activewear & Accessories Category Lead

EssilorLuxottica Group; Lombardia; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leonardo learning platform

Flexible work conditions

Health insurance

Employee discounts

Disconnect Program

Job summary

EssilorLuxottica in Lombardy is seeking an Creative Activewear & Accessories Category Lead to drive the global product line, shape seasonal strategies, and ensure brand consistency across the category. You will collaborate with Design, Sourcing, Planning, Marketing and Sales to develop innovative collections that meet consumer and retailer needs.

You will own the line plan, manage assortment architecture, analyze market trends and performance, and ensure on-time delivery.

Qualifications

• Degree in Marketing, Economics, Business, or related field.
• 3.5+ years in merchandising, category management, or product management.
• Experience in line planning and assortment management.
• Strong analytical skills with data-driven decision making.
• Fluent English; other languages optional.

Responsibilities

• Drive global category strategy through market analysis and trend forecasting.
• Own assortment performance, ensuring SKU profitability and productivity.
• Translate market and sales insights into product direction for innovative collections.
• Lead the global line plan, including assortment architecture, product positioning and pricing strategy.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Design, Development, Sourcing, Planning, Marketing and Sales.
• Ensure seasonal calendar execution and on-time delivery.
• Drive product reviews and margin management balancing innovation and profitability.
• Develop merchandising tools, analyses and seasonal business reviews.
• Maintain product data integrity and communication across functions.
• Lead and influence stakeholders globally for alignment across categories and regions.

Skills

Category management

Line planning

Product merchandising

Merchandising analytics

Cross-functional collaboration

Advanced Excel

Education

Marketing / Economics / Business degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

If you’ve worn a pair of glasses, we’ve already met.

Your #FutureInSight with EssilorLuxottica

Are you willing to pioneer new frontiers, foster inclusivity and collaboration, embrace agility, ignite passion, and make a positive impact on the world? Join us in redefining the boundaries of what’s possible.

Your role

We are looking for an Activewear & Accessories Category Lead who will support the development, coordination and execution of the global Activewear & Accessories product line within the Global Product Department.

In this role, you will help identify consumer, retailer and athlete needs by leveraging market research, category analytics, and product insights to support the creation of innovative and commercially successful collections. You will contribute to the definition of seasonal product strategies, collection frameworks and go-to-market activities, ensuring alignment with business objectives and category priorities.

Working closely with Design, Product Development, Sourcing, Planning, Marketing, Procurement and Sales teams, you will support the entire product lifecycle, from concept generation through market launch, with the objective of driving growth, profitability and brand consistency across the category. The role will also provide exposure to the management of the global Culture Apparel collection.

Main responsibilities:

• Drive global category strategy through market analysis, consumer insights, competitive benchmarking, and trend forecasting.
• Own assortment performance, ensuring SKU efficiency, profitability, productivity and achievement of business targets.
• Translate market and sales insights into product direction, delivering innovative and commercially successful collections.
• Lead the global line plan, including assortment architecture, product positioning, key features and pricing strategy.
• Partner cross-functionally with Design, Development, Sourcing, Planning, Marketing and Sales to deliver best-in-class products.
• Ensure seasonal calendar execution, proactively managing milestones and risks to guarantee on-time delivery.
• Drive product reviews and margin management, balancing innovation, consumer value and profitability objectives.
• Develop and present merchandising tools, analyses, and seasonal business reviews to support strategic decision-making.
• Maintain product data integrity and clear communication across all functions throughout the product lifecycle.
• Lead and influence stakeholders globally, ensuring alignment and consistency across categories, regions and channels.

Main requirements:

• Degree in Marketing, Economics, Business, Product Merchandising, Fashion/Clothing Management or a related field.
• At least 3.5 years of experience in merchandising, category management, product management or similar roles, preferably within the sports, apparel or accessories industry.
• Experience in line planning, product assortment management and seasonal collection architecture, with the ability to balance consumer needs, market opportunities and business objectives.
• Strong understanding of market dynamics, consumer trends and competitive landscapes.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret business and product performance data and translate insights into actionable recommendations.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint is required.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional and international teams.
• Creative thinker with a consumer-centric mindset and a passion for product innovation.
• Working knowledge and/or experience in the activewear and accessories market, or a deep, personal interest in the running community and/or active participation in sports and culture is appreciated.
• Fluent English; additional languages are considered a plus.

What’s in it for you

In EssilorLuxottica, you are not defined just by your job title. Each career adventure is unique; have a glimpse of some of the benefits you will enjoy as a successful candidate:

• Access to our cutting-edge learning platform, Leonardo, and personalized development programs to help you grow professionally and personally.
• Enjoy flexible work conditions, health insurance coverage, ticket restaurants, internal rooftop canteen.
• Access special offers for employees on a vast range of eyewear, eye care products, and fashion apparel, so you can enjoy our world-class brands firsthand.
• Enjoy our “Disconnect Program” a holistic approach to work-life balance, including initiatives for mental health, yoga, jogging sessions, and more, designed to help you recharge and stay healthy.

Our recruitment process may vary; If you are selected, you will be contacted by our recruiters to guide you through the specific steps for your application.

Salary Package:

• Supplementary Health insurance coverage
• Supplementary Pension Plan
• Access to the EssilorLuxottica Corporate Welfare Catalog
• Transportation – Discounted pass
• Meal Vouchers as per company guidelines
• Exclusive employee discounts on company products
• Company-provided laptop and mobile phone

Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion commitment

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We celebrate diversity and provide equal opportunities to all, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that makes us unique.