Description
Adventure is our culture. Join a team that celebrates a lifestyle as bold as the terrain we love. At Backcountry, we are rooted in adventure, recognition, and wellbeing on and off the mountain. We spotlight employee stories, celebrate milestones, and offer exclusive outdoor perks. Whether you are at HQ, in a retail store, or remote, you will be part of a team that thrives on energy, exploration, and connection.
As Merchandise Manager, Bike, you will own the open-to-buy budget, vendor relationships, and day-to-day buying decisions while mentoring a team of buyers and junior merchants. Success in the first 6–12 months means establishing strong vendor partnerships that deliver margin improvement, tightening assortment accuracy across banners, and building the cadence and KPI framework your team runs on.
Responsibilities:
Category Management
- Execute the merchandising and sourcing plan across complete bikes, frames, and components for each banner
- Drive sales, margin, and inventory turn goals across all channels and platforms
- Manage the open-to-buy budget for Bike across multiple banners
- Source and assess merchandise by evaluating market trends, cross-component and build-kit compatibility, and historical selling data
Vendor Management & Differentiation
- Build and maintain relationships with bike brands and component manufacturers, negotiating pricing, terms, key buys, and promotional windows to maximize gross margin
- Identify, evaluate, and onboard new vendors to strengthen the supply chain and assortment
- Establish and enforce quality standards through supplier collaboration and regular product quality checks
Inventory & Analytics
- Own SKU/PO worksheets and purchase orders under tight deadlines
- Manage inventory flow by setting receipt plans, sell-through targets, and re-order or reduction edits
- Leverage sales data, customer insights, and analytics to forecast demand and refine procurement plans
- Monitor category KPIs, evaluate vendor performance, and recommend actions to hit profitability targets
Customer Experience & Cross-Functional Partnerships
- Apply deep technical knowledge of bike systems to ensure assortment compatibility, spec accuracy, and informed support for vendors, planning, and customer-facing teams
- Uphold category content standards, visual merchandising, and taxonomy to improve conversion
- Partner with Planning on budgets, forecasting, and KPI reporting; collaborate with Marketing and Creative on promotions, campaigns, and selling strategy
Team Leadership
- Guide and mentor the Bike buying team, supporting buyer development and fostering a collaborative work environment
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or related field
- 10+ years in retail buying or merchandising with a proven track record in strategic sourcing, vendor management, and e-commerce
- Hands-on technical knowledge of bikes, frames, and components
- Deep understanding of the cycling and outdoor retail market, customer preferences, and industry dynamics
- Proven experience in inventory management, demand forecasting, and procurement optimization
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with demonstrated negotiation ability
- Firm understanding of retail math and merchandising fundamentals
- Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail and time management
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; strong collaborator across functions
- Proficient in Microsoft Office with advanced Excel skills; experience with purchasing software and systems
- Working knowledge of AI tools and their practical application in merchandising workflows
- Genuine passion for cycling and the products Backcountry offers
- Willingness and ability to travel as needed
Benefits:
- Paid time off policies
- 401(k) match
- Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental policies
- Employee discounts across our portfolio of brands