Category Manager - Sneakers

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Category Manager - Sneakers based in the United States.

This is a high-impact opportunity to own the growth and strategic direction of one of the most influential categories in contemporary culture. You will serve as the in-house expert on sneaker culture, market dynamics, community behavior, and resale economics. The role combines category strategy, seller and creator acquisition, commercial growth, and hands-on execution. You will build relationships with influential sellers, collectors, creators, shops, and community leaders across the sneaker ecosystem. Working cross-functionally, you will shape product priorities, marketing activations, and new commerce experiences tailored to the category. As an early leader in a new initiative, you will have significant autonomy to experiment, establish processes, and define what success looks like. Over time, the role can expand into broader category leadership as the sneaker portfolio and team grow.

Accountabilities: Own the sneaker category end-to-end, defining and executing its growth strategy while taking accountability for supply, engagement, revenue, and overall category performance.

Establish quarterly objectives, leading indicators, performance metrics, and operating rhythms to measure progress and identify opportunities for improvement.

Develop deep expertise in the sneaker ecosystem, including sellers, creators, collectors, resellers, subcategories, releases, brand dynamics, cultural moments, pricing, liquidity, and resale economics.

Act as a trusted internal voice for the sneaker community, bringing market insights into product, marketing, commercial, and platform decisions.

Build and manage a pipeline of high-impact sneaker sellers, shops, influencers, and creators, personally recruiting and onboarding priority partners.

Develop seller and creator strategies that combine credibility, community engagement, storytelling, and commercial performance.

Identify and execute sneaker-specific campaigns, cultural moments, commerce formats, and activations designed to increase engagement and conversion.

Partner with marketing teams to create authentic category experiences and continuously test and refine approaches based on performance and community feedback.

Collaborate with account and partnerships teams to scale seller acquisition, engagement, and support.

Work with Product and Engineering to identify and influence features, tools, and experiences that improve outcomes for sneaker buyers and sellers.

Translate market and community insights into clear recommendations that inform product roadmap priorities and broader growth strategies.

Document category learnings, frameworks, and best practices to establish a repeatable playbook that can be applied to future categories.

Help define standards for category ownership and contribute to hiring, onboarding, and development as the sneaker organization expands.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in category management, partnerships, marketplace growth, brand, business development, or comparable operator roles within sneakers, streetwear, fashion, or adjacent consumer ecosystems.

Deep knowledge of sneaker culture, including key communities, platforms, trends, influential participants, market dynamics, and resale economics.

Strong existing credibility and relationships with sellers, creators, collectors, retailers, resellers, influencers, or other participants in the sneaker ecosystem.

Demonstrated ability to take ownership of business outcomes rather than focusing solely on strategy, with a track record of executing, testing, learning, and adapting.

Strong commercial and analytical mindset, with an understanding of pricing, margins, liquidity, incentives, supply dynamics, and marketplace economics.

Excellent relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to establish trust and influence stakeholders across different communities and organizational levels.

Entrepreneurial and highly adaptable approach, with the ability to operate independently and build processes and strategies in an evolving environment.

Experience working cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, Marketing, Partnerships, or other teams to translate market insights into business and product initiatives.

Existing networks among sneaker resellers, store owners, creators, or influencers are highly valued.

Personal experience buying or selling sneakers or operating within resale marketplaces is a plus.

Familiarity with content-driven commerce, creator platforms, enthusiast communities, or community-led marketplaces is advantageous.

Benefits

Base salary: $120,000–$130,000 USD in Colorado, with compensation in other locations varying by geography.

Additional compensation: Opportunities for equity and discretionary bonuses.

Healthcare: Benefits may include medical and dental coverage.

Remote work: Remote position available to candidates based in the United States.

Growth opportunity: Significant ownership and influence over the development of a new commerce initiative and its category growth strategy.

Leadership exposure: Opportunity to work closely with Product, Engineering, Marketing, Partnerships, and other cross-functional teams.

Category influence: Ability to shape how a major cultural category engages sellers, creators, and communities at scale.

Career progression: Potential to grow into broader sneaker portfolio leadership and team management as the category expands.

Inclusive workplace: Commitment to equal employment opportunity and a diverse, respectful working environment.

How Jobgether works: We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team. We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!  Why Apply Through Jobgether?    Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.     #LI-CL1