Heads of Category: Lifestyle and Performance / Outdoor and Ski

We are seeking two experienced Category Leads with a passion for the sports industry. The ideal candidates will have proven sales and negotiation experience, ideally with strong relationships throughout the sports industry in the UK & Europe.

Responsibilities:

· Financial responsibility for the category – revenue, margin, post ship and    discount

· Be responsible for managing the calendar ensuring inventory and sale  events meet the financial goals day by day

· Develop and implement best practices, guidelines and category strategies, working with other category leads to ensure alignment in processes and planning

·Manage, train and coach the category team of Buyers and Assistant Buyers to maximise sales for our brand partners and satisfaction for our members

·Provide direction to Buyers to build balanced, strong sales events that match the SportPursuit customer requirements

·Work tirelessly to develop strategic partnerships with the top 50 partners within the category

·Proactively sell the benefits and successes of partnering with SportPursuit

·Create and nurture brand relations via trade shows, meetings, telephone and email with top 50 partners

·Help source new exciting brands to showcase on SportPursuit

·Build our inline sales relationship to complement our flash sales business

·Continue to be an expert on gear trends, innovation and brands within your category

Skills and Experience:

·Minimum 5 years buying / sales and management experience

·Self-starter, ambitious, detail oriented and eager to drive the business

·A natural sales person - tenacious, persistence and charming – but never willing to take no for an answer!

·Significant retail negotiating and buying experience is essential, ideally with off-price experience

· Experience in hiring, training, coaching and motivating a team of buyers

·Very personable, with a proven ability to build supplier relationships within your existing business

·Thrives working in a target driven environment within a fast paced high growth business

·Proven ability to analyse data and draw conclusions to optimise category performance and drive negotiations

·Passion for sport & sports retail

·Good knowledge of lifestyle and performance / Outdoor and ski brands with strong existing industry relationships is preferred but not essential

About Us:

SportPursuit is a fast paced, entrepreneurial team where self starters have an opportunity to make a huge impact in one of the internet’s fastest growing sports businesses. We’re a dedicated and passionate team who work hard to make things happen. If you’re ambitious and talented, and want to shape the future of the business but don’t mind getting your hands dirty this could be just the place for you.