Store Manager Bilbao

Reports to: Retail Area Manager Southern Europe

Start date: at the earliest convenience

ABOUT THE POSITION

Are you a strong-willed, people-oriented leader with a passion for retail and the outdoors? Columbia Sportswear is looking for a Store Manager to lead our Bilbao store – a promising retail location with a strong local team and exciting development potential.

You’ll be more than a manager: you'll be the business driver, a people developer, and a brand ambassador. You will lead a team of 7 direct reports and play a key role in creating a focused, motivated environment – balancing operational excellence with high team engagement. In Bilbao, more than elsewhere, your leadership and ability to set clear expectations will make the difference.

If you thrive in an autonomous role where structure, ownership, and people management go hand-in-hand, we’d love to hear from you!

HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

• Lead and inspire your team by setting a strong business-focused mindset and fostering accountability and autonomy.
• Maintain a high-performance culture, where customer experience, teamwork, and productivity are consistently top priorities.
• Act as the main point of contact for internal stakeholders and proactively collaborate across departments (Retail Ops, HR, Marketing...).
• Develop and execute local business opportunities and partnerships to grow external traffic (e.g., B2B programs like IKEA employee discounts).
• Manage store operations, staffing, and planning in line with local labour regulations and business needs.
• Monitor and control employment-related costs, ensuring productivity and efficiency without compromising team wellbeing.

WHAT MAKES YOU SUCCESSFUL?

• Minimum 3 years of leadership experience in retail – either as a Store Manager or Assistant Store Manager in a high-volume environment.
• Strong business acumen: you know how to balance people needs with operational goals and budget constraints.
• Proven people leadership: ability to set boundaries, manage demanding teams, and motivate individuals with fairness and clarity.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills: confident in interacting across multiple functions and levels.
• Local knowledge of Bilbao or experience in highly regulated and unionized environments is a strong plus.
• Fluent Spanish and professional English are both required.

WHY JOINING US?

You will have the opportunity to work for a company that has a positive impact on the people we reach, the places we touch, and the products we make. One of our core values is to do the right thing, not just for our company, but also for our consumers, customers, employees, and their communities.

Additionally, you will be able to:

• Build new skills, develop your potential, and grow within our company.
• Join an inclusive employer where diversity and equity lead to creativity and empowerment.
• Be part of a company that focuses on your wellbeing to ensure you can be your best self.
• Travel around Europe for seminars or staff events and expand your professional network.
• Benefit from a staff discount on all our products.

PERKS & BENEFITS

Significant discounts on Columbia and Sorel products.

Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning.

Access to in-house training courses (feedback, leadership, Insights...).

DEI initiatives to exchange and strengthen our involvement around these themes.

ABOUT THE CULTURE

• We value an inclusive and open culture that emphasizes the absence of barriers between team members. We foster a sense of belonging by encouraging personal connections at all levels, creating a cohesive and supportive work environment.
• Team members serve as ambassadors for our brand, motivated by being part of an organization dedicated to activities they are passionate about. This reflects our commitment to building a team that takes pride in our products and values.
• We offer the opportunity to work for a US-based company within a multicultural environment, impacting different countries.
• Our "Always Be Learning" culture promotes continuous learning, enabling employees to develop skills for growth within the company.
• "Unlock Your Potential" characterizes our vision for employee development: providing opportunities to grow in their jobs, teams, or even change roles. We develop our people to grow our business.

Ready to unlock your potential at Columbia Sportswear? Apply now to help us connect active people with their passion! The hiring team will review your application in the upcoming weeks.

If selected: a 30-45 minute introductory interview with our Talent Acquisition Team to discuss your motivations and the role.

Followed by an interview with the hiring manager in Bilbao.

If your strengths align with our needs, we look forward to extending an offer!

#LI-LA1

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities but provides a general overview of the position's scope and function within the company.

Founded in 1938, Columbia Sportswear is a global leader in outdoor and active lifestyle apparel, footwear, accessories, and equipment.

Our primary brands — Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, SOREL, and prAna — address diverse active consumer needs, renowned for innovation, quality, and performance.