Footwear Category Manager Retail Buyer

Location: Corporate Office – Logan, UT
Travel: Required to stores and vendors

Al’s Sporting Goods is seeking a Footwear Category Buyer to take ownership of the financial, operational, and merchandising performance of the footwear business across multiple retail locations and Al’s.com. This is an on-site position based in our corporate office in Logan, UT.

This position offers full category ownership, including assortment strategy and planning, inventory management, vendor relationships, pricing, and overall financial performance. The ideal candidate combines strong merchandising instincts with operational discipline, using data-driven insights to deliver compelling assortments for our customers.

This is not a passive buying role. The Footwear Category Buyer at Al’s is an accountable leader who runs the category like a business, making measurable impacts on results and the customer experience.

Key Responsibilities

Category Ownership & Strategy

• Take full ownership of the Footwear category P&L
• Plan and execute seasonal assortments tailored to customer demand, regional preferences, and sales channels.

Inventory Strategy & Replenishment

• Build and maintain inventory assortments for preseason and in-season buying based on demand, turns, sell-through, and margin targets.
• Manage store-level inventory depth and replenishment across all locations.
• Balance presentation minimums with demand-driven planning.
• Monitor aged inventory and implement exit strategies proactively.

Vendor & Brand Management

• Lead vendor selection, line reviews, negotiations, and ongoing performance.
• Ensure vendors meet fill rates, lead times, costs, and product data accuracy.
• Partner with vendors on exclusives, promotions, and product lifecycle planning.

Financial Results

• Drive category sales growth, gross margin, and inventory productivity.
• Monitor and improve key metrics such as sales velocity, margin %, sell-through, weeks of supply, and markdown rate.
• Implement pricing and promotional plans while protecting margin.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Data Discipline

• Partner with Marketing on launches, promotions, and storytelling.
• Work with eCommerce to optimize online assortment, content, and availability.
• Collaborate with Merchandising Leadership and Procurement to ensure healthy inventory flow.
• Communicate clearly with leadership on category performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Use reporting and dashboards to monitor category health and adjust plans proactively.

Qualifications

Required

• 3–5+ years of buying or category management experience (footwear preferred).
• Proven success driving sales, margin, and inventory productivity.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to translate data into actionable decisions.
• Experience managing multi-store assortments and/or omnichannel inventory.
• Vendor negotiation and relationship management experience.
• Highly organized, accountable, and detail-oriented.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel.
• Comfortable using inventory, sales, and reporting systems to make decisions.

Preferred

• Experience buying footwear, including active, lifestyle, or outdoor categories.
• Background in a fast-growing retail environment with strong operational discipline.

Key Performance Indicators

• Maintain strong in-stock performance while hitting target inventory turns.
• Improve sell-through and reduce reliance on markdowns.
• Align inventory levels with demand while minimizing aged product.
• Demonstrate clear ownership, accountability, and visibility into category performance.
• Deliver assortments that resonate with Al’s customers across stores and eCommerce.

Perks & Benefits

• Opportunity to own a major category and make a visible impact.
• Entrepreneurial environment with leadership support.
• Growing company with a commitment to operational excellence.
• Competitive compensation and benefits.
• Work with a passionate team that values discipline, data, and customer focus.

On-Site

Full-Time.

Pay: $70,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person