Ocean Category Manager (f/m/d)

Ocean Category Manager (f/m/d)

We’re in business to save our home planet. This role will contribute by driving the business development of the Ocean category in EMEA, leading sales, and leveraging connections and influence with Marketing, Buying, Merchandising, and Planning teams, and global Ocean stakeholders. The overarching goal is to achieve a healthy and profitable business in the market, impact on the sports community, and technical product credibility. Without direct reports or budget authority, the role relies on effective stakeholder management and cross-functional influence to ensure alignment and delivery of the Ocean business goals

Main tasks:

• Category vision: co-develop and implement multi-year vision and seasonal business plans in partnership with EMEA Marketplace and Buying teams and global Ocean stakeholders, to grow the Ocean category and set the multi-year roadmap in EMEA.
• Cross-functional coordination: build and activate relationships across Marketplace, Marketing, Merchandising, Buying, Planning, Quality, and Operations teams to educate on category needs, align on goals and tactics, consumer needs, commercial opportunities, and customer care.
• Business development and positioning: identify and drive incremental sales opportunities across channels and with agents and distributors, set and monitor sales targets, and support sell-in/sell-through performance. Develop category marketing objectives in partnership with EMEA Brand and regional Marketing teams and global Ocean stakeholders.
• Go-to-Market execution: guide seasonal GTM processes by partnering with Buying, Merchandising, Planning, Operations, and Dealer Service teams to deliver product presentations, manage stock levels, and inform marketing and sales tactics.
• Marketing & community activation: collaborate with Sports Communities Marketing role and global Ocean stakeholders to ensure integration of surf and ocean ambassadors in our marketing campaigns and grassroots initiatives, events, or activations, to strengthen our brand presence and credibility in surf communities. Be an external ambassador to these communities in EMEA and the voice for surf internally.
• Product & market insight: gather community and market intelligence, and product feedback to inform seasonal assortments, tactics, and influence global product development, ensuring technical credibility and alignment with surf communities and consumer's needs.

What we’re looking for:

• An inclusive mindset
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in outdoor sports category management, with track record of developing category strategy, driving technical product credibility and revenue growth
• Deep understanding and authentic connection to surf culture and communities across EMEA, coming from regular, long-term engagement in surfing (not just lifestyle proximity) and shared experiences
• Deep understanding of EMEA surf industry ecosystem (distribution, seasonality, brands and products landscape etc.)
• Deep connection to Patagonia’s products, values, and purpose
• Advanced interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, with ability to lead cross-functionally and achieve results through stakeholder management in matrix organizations
• Advanced ability to gather consumer insights, analyze data, and use it to inform product assortment and distribution strategies
• Advanced business acumen, including understanding of seasonal GTM processes and commercial planning
• Demonstrated literacy and commitment to ocean protection and surf-related environmental issues
• Strong ability to build rapport and nurture relationships
• Strong understanding of marketing campaigns, community engagement, and ambassador programs
• Comfortable with ambiguity and navigating work context in an entrepreneurial way
• A love of the outdoors
• An interest in saving our home planet and making a positive impact through your work

What Success Looks Like:

• The brand is recognized as technically credible, high quality, and authentic within EMEA surf communities, driven by relevant product assortments, meaningful community and ambassador activation, and consistent presence in key surf markets, events, and grassroots initiatives
• The Ocean category delivers sustainable, profitable growth across EMEA, with clear multi-year direction and strong seasonal execution, evidenced by healthy sell-in/sell-through, disciplined stock levels, and improved category contribution across channels
• Cross-functional teams are aligned and mobilized behind the Ocean strategy, with the role acting as a trusted connector and expert, ensuring coordinated decisions that support category goals
• Through storytelling, community engagement, and leveraging ambassadors, drive
• The Ocean category actively advances positive environmental impact, stewarding ocean protection awareness and action in communities, and engaging surf communities around responsible use, care, and longevity of products

Other important details:

• We have a hybrid work model, working from home for maximum 3