Senior Apparel Merchandiser - International Distributor Region at Columbia Sportswear

Apparel Product Merchandise Manager - International Distributor Region

This position is designated as a hybrid role based out of our headquarters near Portland, Oregon. The current expectation is for employees to work onsite four days per week, subject to change based on business needs. This in-office requirement may be adjusted at the discretion of the company.

The Apparel Product Merchandise Manager - International Distributor Region is responsible for driving and executing merchandising strategies that deliver consumer-right assortments, balance brand-building initiatives with volume-driving product, and ultimately support long-term revenue growth for our International Distributor Region (IDR).

This role sits at the center of the regional Go-To-Market (GTM) processowning product adoption, influencing assortment direction, and partnering closely with Sales, Planning, Marketing, and Product Creation to ensure the region delivers a compelling, profitable, and strategically segmented product offering.

How You'll Make a Difference

• Build market- and consumer-relevant seasonal assortments aligned to brand strategy, leveraging historical performance, trend insights, and financial risk/reward analysis.
• Implement regional merchandising strategies that balance brand heat with high-volume commercial drivers across the marketplace matrix.
• Identify market opportunities and influence future line direction by partnering with Product Creation teams to shape investment priorities that meet regional needs.
• Lead End-in-Mind assortment planning, including channel segmentation, pricing strategy and merchandising classification excellence to ensure enough products that serve the marketplace and drive productivity

Go-To-Market Leadership

• Own the product handover to Sales Planning, Channel Merch, ensuring teams are equipped with clear product stories, innovation highlights, and seasonal Brand priorities.
• Manage the full seasonal adoption processfrom concept through sales meetingensuring financial targets, SKU productivity, and style count goals are met.
• Maintain accuracy and integrity of all merchandising systems and data, including adoption, pricing, forecasting, and catalog readiness.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Build strong relationships with channel leaders to define and implement segmentation strategies that maximize revenue and profitability.
• Partner with Sales, Planning, and Marketing to develop seasonal and long-term growth strategies supported by business planning.
• Collaborate with Sales and Strategic Response Team to ensure SMUs are efficient, profitable, and aligned with the regional vision.
• Work with Sales to develop competitive and aligned seasonal pricing strategies.

Business Performance & Optimization

• Improve forecast accuracy, SKU efficiency, and overall product productivity each season.
• Use market insights, consumer data, and sales performance to influence product mix and ensure coverage of key price points.
• Manage sample ordering and sample room organization to ensure easy access and visibility for cross-functional teams.

Team Enablement & Communication

• Educate the sales force on product innovation, technologies, brand initiatives, assortments, and marketing support.
• Communicate clearly and effectively across small and large groups, ensuring alignment and clarity throughout the GTM cycle.
• Bring a positive, collaborative, and solutions-oriented mindset to daily work.

You Are

• A clear, confident communicator who can influence across functions and levels.
• A strategic thinker who thrives in detail-oriented execution.
• Skilled in persuasion, storytelling, and presenting complex ideas simply.
• Analytical, curious, and comfortable solving ambiguous problems.

You Have

• 5+ years of merchandising experience in sportswear, outdoor, or specialty retail categories.
• International Distributor Region Apparel Merchandising experience preferred.
• Strong business and product management skills with demonstrated financial acumen.
• Deep understanding of the consumer, retail landscape, and competitive marketplace.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Creative Suite (PC or Mac).
• Bachelor's degree in Business or related field, or equivalent experience in Merchandising or Sales.
• Ability to travel 20% of the time