[Hiring] Category Manager, Special Collections @Zenni Optical

Role Description

We’re looking to hire a Category Manager to help shape the development of Zenni’s category strategy, grounded in sales and shopper data to effectively achieve inventory and financial objectives. This role is responsible for defining overarching assortment strategies and tactics for Zenni's Special Collections ; analyzing market trends and consumer insights; developing and executing go-to-market plans; and driving innovation, including new product launches through lifecycle management. With a strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making, this position ensures alignment across key stakeholders to deliver core business objectives such as profitability, market share growth, and operational efficiency. This role will report to the Director, Category Management.

Responsibilities

• Category Strategy and Business Planning:
  • Champion the Special Collections category strategy, including product roadmaps, new product introductions, and financial plans aligned to revenue and profit goals.
  • Drive category strategies that strengthen brand positioning and capture global market share through strong cross-functional collaboration.
  • Partner and collaborate with stakeholders, including procurement, brand, marketing, channel owners and leadership to define strategies that meet customer needs and increase product performance.
  • Leverage the category strategy to collaborate with the FP&A team and create the annual product financial plan by category/style that aligns with the annual revenue plan.
• Category Management:
  • Lead the product creation and assortment planning for special collections, considering factors such as global market trends, consumer preferences and historical sales data.
  • Create the seasonal NPI Roadmap and design briefs based on the product financial plan including global needs, carryover, new product introduction and product exits.
  • Provide quarterly, pre-season category guidance to the Procurement team; to outline the product need to develop expansion opportunities to fill category gaps.
  • Maximize sales and margin by setting volume and margin targets in the design briefs.
  • Establish key product initiatives and correlate investment plans to hit seasonal revenue and margin targets through cross-functional partnership and data collection.
  • Create product brief for Marketing Team, identifying hero and key product stories to drive product visibility and sales.
  • Review all product photography to ensure photos represent the product accurately to the consumer.
  • Outline the execution of category initiatives for the Website and Mobile App to optimize sales.
  • Partner with marketing and channel partners to develop sales driving actions including product placement, site merchandising, region specific assortment and ranges, and promotional strategies to achieve targets.
• Product Performance and Lifecycle Management:
  • Define metrics to measure customer satisfaction and product performance, use these to analyze and make future decisions around the lifecycle of the product portfolio.
  • Manage effective product lifecycle planning and management that aligns to product performance expectations via the product financial plan, from product launch through end of life, avoiding SKU proliferation.
  • Manage the reporting, capture and communication of product performance data and findings to inform business and commercial planning.
  • Identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Price Strategy and Management:
  • Collaborate with key stakeholders to determine competitive pricing strategies by market for existing and new products optimizing sales and profitability while remaining competitive across the markets.
  • Set price and margin targets for new product introductions within the design brief.
  • Responsible for achievement of margin and revenue targets for assigned product categories.
  • Monitor global industry trends, competitor activity, and emerging market opportunities to inform strategic decisions.
  • Support the Category Director and cross functional partners with competitive analysis, including pricing, promotional strategies, and marketplace trends.
• Cross Functional Relationships:
  • Demonstrate strong working relationship with the e-commerce, FP&A, Procurement, Demand Planning, Site Merchandising, Brand, Commercial Ops, Product Marketing, and Engagement Marketing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, product management, merchandising, marketing, or related field.
• 8+ years of category or product management experience within a fashion or eyewear brand, with strong knowledge of e-commerce and international channels.
• Proficient in business, product, and financial acumen with the ability to translate data and consumer insights into actionable strategies.
• High proficiency in G Suite and working knowledge of Microsoft and Adobe suites, Slack or something similar.

Requirements

• 20-30% travel, including domestic travel to the Novato office (3-4 times per year) and international travel to Italy, France, and APAC region (3-4 times per year).

Benefits

• Annual bonus program.
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision (dependent coverage capped at $300/month).
• Life, AD&D, and disability coverage (with optional add-ons).
• 401(k) with up to 4% match.
• Comprehensive wellbeing programs (mental, physical, emotional support).
• Lifestyle Spending Account (wellbeing + learning).
• Work-from-home stipend (for eligible roles).
• Generous PTO in addition to our Week of Zen - the time between Christmas and New Year’s to relax and recuperate.
• Fully Paid Parental Leave - 16 weeks for birthing and non-birthing parents.
• Family forming & fertility support and services through Maven.
• Annual Zenni Gift Card - to use towards our products!

Compensation

In addition to other forms of compensation, such as perks and benefits, the estimated salary range for this role is $121,500- $151,900 for candidates outside of California. For California-based candidates, the estimated salary range is $133,650 - $167,090. The final offer will be determined based on permissible, non-discriminatory factors such as skill set, experience, geographical location, market conditions, and other organizational needs. The Company reserves the right to change, modify, or revisit the salary range for various reasons including business needs.