CATEGORY MANAGER (FASHION/ ECOMMERCE/ LIFESTYLE / SPORTSWWEAR)

Job Description

Industry: Sportswear Manufacturing & Retail We design, source, and retail performance athletic apparel and footwear across omnichannel platforms, delivering innovative products that inspire athletes nationwide. Our fast-growing merchandising organisation leverages data-driven insights and global supplier networks to delight customers and exceed business targets. Primary Title: Category Manager – Sportswear Role & Responsibilities Develop and own the end-to-end sportswear category strategy—market mapping, consumer segmentation, range architecture, and seasonal calendars. Lead assortment planning, pricing, and markdown optimisation to achieve revenue, margin, and sell-through KPIs across retail, e-commerce, and wholesale channels. Conduct trend and competitor analysis to identify product gaps, initiate concept briefs, and influence design & sourcing teams. Manage vendor selection, cost negotiations, and supply-chain timelines to ensure on-time delivery and quality compliance. Partner with demand planning, marketing, and store operations to execute Go-To-Market plans and in-season trading actions. Track category performance through dashboards; present insights and course-correction proposals to senior leadership. Skills & Qualifications Must-Have 5+ years category or merchandising management in sportswear, athleisure, or fashion retail. Proven success driving sales and margin for multi-channel product portfolios. Strong analytical acumen with advanced Excel/BI tools for forecasting and inventory optimisation. Expertise in vendor negotiation, cost engineering, and PLM systems. Bachelor’s degree in Business, Fashion Merchandising, or related field. Preferred MBA or post-graduate diploma in Retail Management. Exposure to international sourcing and sustainability compliance (BSCI, Higg Index). Experience launching D2C performance apparel lines. Benefits & Culture Highlights Work onsite with cross-functional athletes who value speed, collaboration, and innovation. Merchandise discounts, wellness allowance, and sponsored sports events. Transparent growth path with leadership-development programs. Location: On-site, India. Applicants must have current work authorisation. Join us to elevate sport through smarter merchandising. Skills: inventory optimization,vendor negotiation,business intelligence (bi) tools,business intelligence tools,team leadership,sportswear retail,pricing strategy,merchandising,excel,apparel,margin optimization,analytical skills,plm systems,sales driving,category management,sportswear,product lifecycle management (plm),trend analysis,merchandising management,sales optimization,data analytics,cost engineering