Category Manager, Partnerships

Overview

The Category Manager, Partnerships drives the global product strategy and seasonal line plan for brand partnerships and licensing. This role translates consumer, cultural and marketplace insights into compelling partner-led product opportunities, leads execution across the product creation lifecycle, and ensures programs meet partner requirements, brand standards and commercial goals. The role is highly collaborative and works across Partnerships, Product, Design, Merchandising, Marketing, and regional teams. This person will be an expert on the partnerships' portfolio, relevant consumers, competitive activity and pop-culture trends. They will combine critical thinking, product judgment, operational rigor and strong partner management to advance the global roadmap and deliver programs with excellence.

What You'll Do

• Complete the global partnerships and licensing line plan, using seasonal hindsight, business analysis, consumer insight and marketplace intelligence to inform product roadmaps.
• Develop and present global product and partnership briefs that clearly define the consumer opportunity, creative direction, product architecture, commercial rationale and success measures.
• Lead partnership programs through the product creation lifecycle, coordinating the cross-functional triad and broader collaborator group from concept through commercialization, passionate about building, product development, and marketing teams.
• Own and maintain internal product management system updates and SKU creation.
• Own product approval workflows with licensors and partners, ensuring submissions are completed accurately and on time. Ensure data is maintained in relevant systems and communicated consistently across teams.
• Own packaging development for partnership programs, working with licensors and internal teams to deliver compliant, consumer-relevant execution from briefs through final samples.
• Build and present achievement decks, visual line plans, and decision materials for global and regional teams.
• Build positive relationships with external partners and internal collaborators while balancing multiple programs, priorities, timelines and points of view.
• Identify process improvements and product management guidelines that increase speed, clarity, accountability and quality across the partnerships portfolio.

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What You'll Bring to the Table

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years of related experience in category management, product management, licensing, brand partnerships, merchandising or a related consumer-products field.
• Demonstrated experience leading work across the product creation lifecycle and coordinating cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, agile environment.
• Working knowledge of licensing operations, product approvals and partner compliance requirements; experience with footwear or consumer goods is preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence partners, peers and leadership through clear, concise storytelling.
• Strong organization, attention to detail and time management, with the ability to manage multiple partners, programs and deadlines simultaneously.
• Creative, forward-thinking approach and a willingness to challenge the status quo while protecting brand and partner standards.
• Adaptability, professionalism and sound judgment when navigating change, ambiguity and competing priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint; experience with PLM or related product data systems is a plus.
• Current knowledge of pop culture, entertainment, music, sport, gaming, fashion and emerging consumer trends is a plus.
• Ability to travel as business needs require.
• Operate as the day-to-day category owner for assigned partnership programs, establishing clear priorities and driving accountability across the workstream.
• Bring a global, consumer-first perspective while incorporating regional needs and commercial realities.
• Anticipate risks, surface issues early and recommend practical solutions that protect timelines, relationships and business outcomes.
• Help build a collaborative and inclusive team environment where open communication is encouraged; assist junior team members in their growth by sharing knowledge and maintaining solid work habits.