Category Manager; Special Projects & Partnerships

Position: Category Manager (Special Projects & Partnerships )
About the Role  As the Category Manager (Special Projects & Partnerships), you will play a key role in bringing some of our most exciting and strategic product initiatives to life. In this role, you will lead the execution and lifecycle management of all non-core product projects including collaborations, SMUs, and OMUs, sitting at the intersection of product, partnerships, and commercial strategy.
Reporting to the VP of Product Design & Innovation, you will transform creative partnership opportunities into commercially successful product assortments, ensuring every project is executed seamlessly from concept to launch. Acting as the bridge between external collaborators and internal teams, you will drive cross‑functional alignment, operational excellence, and flawless execution while helping shape initiatives that strengthen the brand, excite our customers, and unlock new opportunities for growth.
This role is based at our Vancouver HQ, with an in‑office schedule from Monday through Thursday. The position is a hybrid role allowing work from home on Friday.
Day in the Life  Partnership Merchandising & Execution   Act as the primary category lead for assigned collaborations, ensuring that determined partner requirements are translated into a cohesive and commercially sound line architecture.
Manage the "Special Project" product mix, ensuring that seasonal stories are accurately reflected in the line plan and meet regional distribution requirements.
Own the operational setup and upload of partnership collections into appropriate partner portals, ensuring external collaborators have 100% accurate technical data and imagery.
Partner with Sales and Marketing to ensure the commercial positioning and pricing for limited‑edition drops are synced across all global systems.
Operational Stewardship   Own the end‑to‑end system lifecycle for all Special Projects within the PLM, including style creation, attribute mapping, and SKU‑level hierarchy.
Funnel all special requests (SMU/OMU) through standard system protocols to ensure they meet brand quality, cost, and data standards.
Champion the use of project management tools () to provide the Product, Sales, and Planning teams with real‑time visibility on partnership milestones and action items.
Validate style header information specifically for partnership carry‑overs and net‑recent collaborator SKUs (dimensions, care codes, and HS codes).
Lifecycle Management   Partner with Sourcing and Development to track cost targets and royalty implications during the prototype phase of all special projects.
Build and manage partnership‑specific global price lists, executing system‑wide uploads for exclusive launch windows and promotional periods.
Lead the end‑of‑life strategy for seasonal collaborations, managing packaging requirements and inventory exit plans.
Support the coordination of physical samples, print strike‑offs, and development details specifically for partner reviews and Go‑To‑Market briefings.
Deliverables & KPIs   100% accuracy in PLM setup, pricing uploads, and portal management for all partner‑related product data.
Maintenance of real‑time project tracking via , ensuring zero communication gaps across cross‑functional teams.
On‑time delivery of partnership line plans and validated system data for all seasonal milestones.
Successful management of margins and royalty trackers for assigned special projects.
About You   3+ years’ experience in Category Management, Merchandising, or Buying across both Wholesale and DTC.
Relevant category experience preferred (bags, accessories, headwear).
A thorough understanding of the end‑to‑end product development lifecycle and global Go‑To‑Market calendars.
A proven track record of taking defined product concepts or partnerships and successfully driving them through internal operational workflows to launch.
Highly proficient in PLM software and project management tools (), with an obsessive attention to detail and a commitment to 100% data accuracy.
A strong understanding of retail math and margins, with the ability to balance external partner requirements against internal financial goals.
Skilled at translating high‑level creative…