Principal Product Line Manager - Women's Footwear at Columbia Sportswear Company

Portland, Oregon, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Footwear, SportswearIndustries

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
8-10 years’ experience in product line management
Strong presentation and creative writing/thinking skills
Strong technical skills, specifically PowerPoint, Excel, and briefing systems
Expert understanding of the full product creation life cycle (footwear category preferred)
Ability to travel domestically and globally >20% of the year
Passionate about footwear and fashion
Women’s product enthusiast
Confident to present product line point of view with cross-functional partners
Strong understanding of footwear materials and build
Comfortable giving respectful feedback in large settings
Detail-oriented, organized, with strong time-management skills
Clear passion and understanding for footwear, curiosity of insights, and respectful/collaborative approach

Responsibilities

Lead and inspire delivery of functional and distinct women’s footwear product solutions
Curate and manage products through the authentic SOREL lens
Manage multiple projects with unique distribution needs each season
Brief category-specific women’s products to design and development to achieve margin targets
Participate in design reviews and prototype reviews
Seek out and socialize consumer insights and forward-thinking product ideas
Execute seasonal and longer-term line architecture strategy with product management team
Play key role in North America merchandising, driving assortments for wholesale distribution and segmentation strategy
Achieve target margins at product and category level
Assist in proofing product line needs (data integrity, sales tools, hang tags, packaging, label/logo information)
Organize preparation for key milestone meetings and build compelling presentations
Build strong cross-functional relationships with sales, marketing, and planning for on-time product launches
Assist in product preparation process for key retailers, internal stakeholders, and sales representatives
Drive seasonal product briefs in accordance with brand, category, and strategy
Manage and maintain inputs to system data with timeliness and accuracy
Apply consumer pulse, trend information, and analytical inputs to drive product vision
Provide ongoing category product input to creation partners
Present to internal and external key stakeholders

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Product Line ManagementFootwear MaterialsFootwear BuildDesign ReviewsPrototype ReviewsConsumer InsightsMerchandisingWholesale DistributionLine ArchitectureProduct Development

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

Is this role remote or hybrid, and what's the office requirement?

This is a hybrid role based out of the HQ office near Portland, Oregon, with the expectation to be in-office 3 days or more per week depending on business need, and in-office expectations will be 4 days.

What are the key skills required for the Principal Product Line Manager role?

Key skills include a strong understanding of footwear materials and build, sharp product eye for design and prototype reviews, clear communication, timely decision-making, accountability, and a collaborative approach to product creation.

What is the salary or compensation for this position?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What is the company culture or work environment like for this role?

The culture emphasizes respect, clear communication, timely decision-making, accountability, collaboration within a triad-centered way of working, and building strong cross-functional relationships.

What makes a strong candidate for this Principal Product Line Manager position?

Strong candidates have a clear passion and understanding for footwear, curiosity about consumer insights, experience managing multiple projects, and the ability to drive product briefs, achieve margin targets, and collaborate across teams.

Columbia Sportswear Company

Designs and sells outdoor apparel and gear

About Columbia Sportswear Company

Columbia Sportswear Company designs and sells a variety of outdoor clothing and gear, including jackets, shirts, pants, shorts, footwear, and accessories like hats and backpacks. Their products are aimed at outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, campers, and active individuals of all ages. Columbia's products are known for their quality and durability, setting them apart from competitors in the outdoor apparel market. The company operates through a direct-to-consumer model, selling via their website, retail stores, and partnerships with other retailers, which helps them reach a wide audience. Their goal is to provide high-quality outdoor gear that enhances the experience of those who enjoy outdoor activities.

Portland, OregonHeadquarters

1938Year Founded

$40KTotal Funding

IPOCompany Stage

Consumer GoodsIndustries

1,001-5,000Employees

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Unlimited Paid Time Off

401(k) Company Match

401(k) Retirement Plan

Wellness Program

Employee Discounts

Mental Health Support

Risks

The new Cherry Hill Mall store may face challenges in a competitive retail environment.

The Vader Collection may not resonate with Columbia's core customer base.

Strategic shifts by new marketing leadership could impact brand loyalty.

Differentiation

Columbia Sportswear offers innovative outdoor apparel with a strong brand reputation.

The company employs a multi-channel sales strategy for broad market reach.

Columbia's collaborations, like the Star Wars collection, attract niche markets.

Upsides

The rise of outdoor activities post-pandemic boosts demand for Columbia's products.

Collaborations with franchises like Star Wars enhance brand visibility and appeal.

Direct-to-consumer sales and social media marketing reach younger demographics effectively.

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