The Opportunity

We are seeking experienced merchandise and category professionals for an opportunity with a globally recognised performance and outdoor business. With strong momentum across Australia and New Zealand, the business is continuing to invest in its local capability and strengthen the way its product categories are brought to market. The successful candidate will take ownership of a key technical footwear portfolio spanning running, trail and outdoor use.

Sitting at the intersection of product, commercial planning and consumer insight, the Merchandise Manager will shape the local category direction and build assortments that are relevant to the ANZ market, commercially productive and consistent with the brand’s premium positioning.

What You’ll Own

- Develop the long-range merchandise strategy for the performance footwear portfolio across relevant sports, consumer segments and sales channels
- Build differentiated product assortments for wholesale partners and direct-to-consumer channels
- Translate global product direction into locally relevant ranges informed by ANZ consumer behaviour and market opportunities
- Lead seasonal merchandise planning from initial range development through to launch, trade and end-of-life management
- Manage category financials, including sales forecasts, pricing, margin, inventory requirements and volume planning
- Establish clear range architecture across core products, seasonal innovation and commercial volume drivers
- Lead the category’s go-to-market process, ensuring product, sales and marketing teams are aligned around key seasonal priorities
- Partner closely with global merchandising stakeholders, communicating local performance, market feedback and future product requirements
- Use competitor activity, consumer trends and sell-through data to identify opportunities and address assortment gaps
- Review demand, supply and inventory indicators in partnership with planning and commercial teams




- Develop practical reporting tools that provide visibility across sales, margin, stock performance and assortment productivity
- Support the creation of channel-specific launch plans that maximise product impact while protecting brand positioning

About You

You will bring established merchandise management or category leadership experience gained within footwear, running, outdoor, sporting goods or a closely related consumer category. To succeed in the role, you will ideally offer:
- Strong experience in range building, assortment planning, pricing and product lifecycle management
- Demonstrated ownership of a category or merchandise portfolio within an omnichannel business
- Sound commercial and financial capability across gross sales, net sales, margin, forecasting and inventory
- Experience leading a structured seasonal go-to-market process
- The ability to turn consumer, competitor and trading insights into clear commercial actions
- A strong understanding of the Australian and Current Zealand sporting goods landscape
- Confidence partnering with international teams while representing the needs of the local market
- Advanced analytical and reporting capability, with a practical and commercially focused approach
- Genuine interest in technical product, performance sport and evolving consumer behaviour

Experience within performance running, technical footwear or outdoor categories will be particularly well regarded.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to take meaningful ownership of a strategically important category within a global organisation experiencing significant growth across ANZ. You will have the scope to influence local product direction, improve the commercial performance of the range and work across both established wholesale partnerships and expanding direct-to-consumer channels.

In addition to strong career-development potential, the position will offer a dynamic international environment, access to an extensive portfolio of premium products and the opportunity to combine genuine category expertise with a passion for performance and outdoor sport.

📌 Merchandise Manager (Melbourne)
🏢 CVinternational
📍 Melbourne