Apparel Product Manager

Road Runner Sports; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts on gear

Free running and walking events

Job summary

Road Runner Sports is seeking an Apparel Product Manager to own the performance of apparel categories from seasonal planning to sell-through. You will build assortments, manage vendor relationships, drive financials, and bring private label and branded product to life across stores and e-commerce.

You will mentor a small team, collaborate across Marketing, E‑commerce, Visual Merchandising and Retail Ops, and travel to shows and stores to stay ahead of market trends.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of apparel merchandising/product management or buying experience.
• Experience negotiating with vendors and managing seasonal plans.
• Experience in private label or branded product development is a strong plus.
• Strong analytical skills for margin analysis and business cases.
• Proficient in Excel/Word and able to build compelling plans.

Responsibilities

• Build and own the seasonal assortment plan for apparel categories from initial buys to markdowns and exit strategies.
• Develop and execute private label and branded apparel strategies with vendors from concept to delivery.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, delivery, and co-op marketing with vendor partners.
• Partner with Marketing, E-commerce, Visual Merchandising, and Retail Operations to drive launches and campaigns.
• Analyze sales data to identify margin opportunities and present quarterly reviews with actionable insights.
• Mentor Assistant Product Managers and Merchandising Assistants to build a high-performing team.
• Travel to trade shows, vendor locations, and stores to stay ahead of market trends.

Skills

Vendor negotiation

Open-to-buy management

Financial ownership

Excel

Word

Analytical skills

Private label development

Trend analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising or related field

Tools

Excel

Word

Job description

Road Runner Sports is looking for an Apparel Product Manager to join our Merchandising team. In this role, you will own the performance of your apparel categories from seasonal plan through final sell-through, building the assortments, managing the vendor relationships, driving the financials, and bringing private label and branded product to life across our stores and e-commerce platform. You will work across the organization, mentor a small team, and play a direct role in shaping how our customers look and perform on every run. If you have a deep love for product, a sharp commercial instinct, and the organization and hustle to execute at a high level this role is for you.

About Us

• Road Runner Sports is proud to have been recognized as the Footwear Retailer of the Year by Footwear Magazine
• Founded in a San Diego garage over 42 years ago
• Road Runner Sports has 50 plus stores across the country, and we are growing!
• Our Values, Mission & Purpose (we call them Our 6 Pillars) are Be Different, Bring the WOW, Build Something Great Together, Get Moving, Stay Active, and Live Healthy

What you'll get to do

• Build and own the seasonal assortment plan for your apparel categories from initial buys and open-to-buy management through markdowns and exit strategies
• Develop and execute private label and branded apparel strategies, partnering with vendors from concept through delivery to create product our customers love
• Negotiate pricing, terms, delivery, and co-op marketing with vendor partners and hold them accountable to quality, reliability, and timeliness
• Partner with Marketing, E-commerce, Visual Merchandising, and Retail Operations to drive product launches, key item campaigns, and cross-channel category presentation
• Analyze sales data, identify margin opportunities and risks, and present quarterly business reviews with clear insights and action plans
• Mentor and develop Assistant Product Managers and Merchandising Assistants building a team that executes at the highest level
• Travel to trade shows, vendor locations, and retail stores to stay ahead of market trends and support the business

What you'll bring

• 4+ years of experience in apparel merchandising, product management, or buying specialty retail or athletic apparel experience strongly preferred
• Proven expertise in vendor negotiation, seasonal planning, open-to-buy management, and financial ownership of a product category
• Experience in private label or branded product development from concept through delivery is a strong plus
• Strong analytical skills comfortable with sales data, margin analysis, and building business cases for investment
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel and Word skills
• A genuine passion for active lifestyle apparel and a sharp eye for product, trend, and customer value
• Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Business, Apparel Design, or a related field

Your rewards!

• Earn competitive pay
• Contribute to an OUTSTANDING team
• Be the envy of your friends with discounts on ALL the latest gear and footwear
• Enjoy free running and walking events

After acceptance of a potential offer, the successful completion of a background check will be required prior to start date. The offer is contingent upon the information received in this report, and will be carried out in accordance with Local, State, and Federal laws.

We're committed to protecting your privacy rights.

We collect personal information from you, including personally identifying information, professional or employment-related information, and educational information. The purpose of this collection is to assist in evaluating your application for employment.

Road Runner Sports is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Road Runner Sports is an e-verify organization and an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

Road Runner Sports is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Road Runner Sports is an e-verify organization and an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

USD $70,000.00/Yr.

USD $80,000.00/Yr.