Category Manager (Special Projects & Partnerships)

ABOUT HERSCHEL SUPPLY Welcome to Herschel Supply, where we make quality products for a lifetime of better journeys. Designed with timeless form and intuitive function in Vancouver, Canada, every piece is backed by our signature warranty for wherever you’re going next. Since 2009, we’ve never stopped taking risks. We’re constantly innovating, growing our community and heading on new journeys. We’ve gotten lost in new cities, made lifelong friends all over the world, road tripped with no GPS, and explored a ton of creative pursuits along the way. Putting yourself out there isn’t easy. It means stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying something new. It might be scary at first, but it also leads to the best parts of life. Inspiring others to take that leap is what we live for. Wherever you’re headed, we’re here to help you pack your future with possibilities. So, come along for the ride, get inspired and Put Yourself Out There. 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 9-month contract 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. At Herschel, we thrive on in-person collaboration and the creativity that comes from working closely together. This role is based at our Vancouver HQ, with an in-office schedule from Monday through Thursday. A DAY IN THE LIFE Working closely with Product Design and Development, Marketing, Sales, and Sourcing, the Category Manager will be responsible for the following: 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 (Monday.com) 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-new 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 Monday.com, 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 (Monday.com), 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 requirements into technical data for cross-functional partners High proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets and experience with ERP systems and Shopify. The ability to manage complex, multi-layered projects simultaneously under tight deadlines while maintaining a service-oriented approach. YOUR JOURNEY WITH HERSCHEL SUPPLY The annual salary for this role falls within the range of $81,000 - $91,000 depending on experience. This is a hybrid role, based out of our Vancouver HQ 4 days per week - Monday to Thursday, with the option to WFH on Friday. In addition to base salary, here are just a few of the additional perks we offer to our valued team members as part of our comprehensive total compensation package: Health benefits Competitive vacation policy Transit subsidy Employee assistance program Product discount and giveaways Free fruit, snacks & hot and cold beverages Social clubs and workshops (run, craft etc.) Weekly happy hour Various fun events throughout the year A dog friendly office DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION AT HERSCHEL SUPPLY We’re committed to creating a workspace that is safe, secure, inclusive and enjoyable for all. Stemming from our core values and initiating dialogue around our programs, we aim to empower everyone to share their individual voices and experiences. It’s with this openness that we are able to expand our view of who we are as individuals, and what we can do in our careers at Herschel. At Herschel Supply, we are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our goal is to build an inclusive culture that connects us to our customers and the communities around us while embracing and encouraging diversity in our employees’ age, colour, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion and other characteristics that make our employees unique. Herschel Supply welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request throughout the interview process, just let us know and we’ll work with you to ensure you’re supported.