Director, Category & Merchandising
ABOUT SPECIALIZED
Innovation has guided our every decision since 1974. As more riders of all ages get on the roads, trails, and streets than ever before, we’re here to do the best work of our lives to push the greatest human powered machine into the future each and every day. We’re a team of barrier-breakers, disrupters, and problem solvers. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where every teammate can succeed as we inspire riders everywhere.
JOB SUMMARY
Director, Category & Merchandising
Category Management is the financial and strategic backbone — every range decision grounded in margin targets, sell-through expectations, and market data. Merchandising Strategy translates that into a coherent product story across owned retail, IBD, and ecommerce. Demand and Supply Planning ensures the inventory is there to execute it. Ecommerce Merchandising carries it to the digital shelf. And Retail Services — now spanning both NorAm and LatAm under a single Americas-wide manager — brings the strategy to life on the floor of every IBD and owned retail store across the region.
HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Lead the existing Category Management team. The financial and strategic foundation of the role — every merchandising decision connects back here.
- Set the category strategy for the Americas, aligned to global direction and local market opportunity across NorAm and LatAm.
- Build category business plans tying range decisions to margin targets, inventory positions, and sell-through expectations.
- Ensure category managers and demand planners operate in a shared rhythm — same data, same priorities, same planning cadence.
- Present category performance reviews and forward plans to the Head of Americas Region and key retail accounts.
Own the merchandising architecture that drives category performance across owned retail, IBD, and ecommerce. This is where category strategy becomes a product story.
- Develop and manage seasonal merchandising plans aligned to global brand direction and local market realities.
- Define range architecture — what products go where, in what quantities, with what adjacencies, across physical and digital shelves.
- Ensure owned retail, IBD, and ecommerce tell the same product story at the same time, every season.
- Translate global category strategies into locally relevant plans for both NorAm and LatAm markets.
- Connect merchandising decisions directly to financial outcomes — margin, sell-through, and inventory efficiency.
Lead a planning function of eight people across NorAm and LatAm. The right product, in the right place, at the right time — consistently.
- Own demand forecasting for both regions using commercial data, sell-through trends, and real market signals.
- Lead supply planning to align inventory availability with seasonal sell-through targets and retailer needs.
- Identify supply risks early and resolve before they become revenue problems.
- Deliver real-time visibility into stock health, forecast accuracy, and fulfillment performance across both regions.
Own the commercial direction of how Specialized products are sequenced, featured, and merchandised on the digital shelf for the Americas.
- Set the Americas digital merchandising strategy for Specialized.com — aligned to seasonal plans, inventory position, and category priorities.
- Direct the Ecomm Merchandising Manager on product sequencing, promotional placement, and digital shelf priorities.
- Ensure physical and digital merchandising tell the same story at the same time across all channels.
- Use sell-through and traffic data to drive ongoing optimization of the digital shelf.
Lead the Americas-wide Retail Services function through a single Retail Services Manager who owns NorAm and LatAm in-store execution. This is where merchandising strategy meets the floor.
- Lead the Retail Services Manager who owns in-store activation across IBD and owned retail in both NorAm and LatAm.
- Set the in-store execution standard for Specialized across all physical Americas retail touchpoints — consistent regardless of market.
- Own the retail activation calendar tied to seasonal merchandising plans, product launches, and key commercial moments.
- Drive creation of point-of-purchase materials — signage, displays, fixtures, and assets — that translate the merchandising strategy into conversion.
WHAT YOU NEED TO WIN
- 10+ years across category management, merchandising, or commercial roles — with real experience in both financial planning and go-to-market strategy.
- Proven track record building and leading cross-functional, geographically distributed teams.
- Category management experience — you know how to build plans that connect range strategy to margin outcomes.
- Deep understanding of omnichannel retail — you think in owned retail, IBD, and ecommerce simultaneously.
- Strong grasp of demand and supply planning — you understand how forecasting decisions affect the floor and the digital shelf.
- Experience working in or with Latin American markets. Cultural fluency is not optional here.
- Bilingual strongly preferred: English and Spanish or Portuguese.
- Comfortable building structure and clarity where it does not yet exist.
- Strong communicator — as effective in presenting to senior leadership as sitting with a retailer on their floor.
- Data-literate — decisions come from numbers, not instinct alone.
- Willing and able to travel 50–60% across NorAm and LatAm.
BENEFITS
As a full-time, regular teammate, you are eligible for the following benefits, beginning the first of the month following your start date.
Benefits include:
- Competitive pay with annual performance-based reviews for continued growth and recognition
- Comprehensive healthcare plan options, including PPO, EPO, HDHP, and HMO (acupuncture and physical therapy included)
- Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer HSA contributions when enrolled in the High-Deductible Healthcare Plan (HDHP)
- Dental and Vision plans
- 401(k) Company Matching up to $5,000 annually with immediate 100% vesting and administrative fees paid for by the company
- Company-paid Life, AD&D, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program that provides access to individualized mental well-being care
- Generous Vacation, Sick, Paid Holidays, and Volunteer Time Off
- 14 weeks of 100% paid leave for birthing parents and 8 weeks of 100% paid leave for non-birthing parents, plus a Specialized bike for your new baby
- Up to $9,000 annually in Career Development & Degree Assistance
- Up to $250 annually in Fitness & Wellness Reimbursement
- Industry Pro-Deal Discounts and Perks
- Compensation: Based in CA, $129,326 to $225,026 annually plus bonus
For additional information on benefits and perks, please visit: https://benefits.specialized.com.
Here at Specialized we believe that bikes have the power to change lives for the better. We are a culture of barrier-breakers, but we need your unique ideas and backgrounds to help us push boundaries and change the world. We are always looking for creative, innovative, and passionate people who can contribute to our mission of getting people outside. Regardless of your qualifications, if you think this could be you and you're ready to make a difference, please apply! We hope that you will reach out and show us how you can make an impact here.
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