Packs & Equipment Merchandiser

Job Title: Packs & Equipment Merchandiser

Job Level: Mid-Senior Level

Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Job Location: Cotopaxi HQ: Salt Lake City, Utah (Hybrid or Remote in MST or PST)

Job Compensation: $95-125k plus annual bonus potential

About Cotopaxi:
We make adventure travel gear to empower people to see the world and make it better. As a Certified B Corporation, our Gear for GoodⓇ promise drives everything we do - from ethical and sustainable sourcing to products built to last and create lasting change. Through the Cotopaxi Foundation, we dedicate 1% of our revenue to nonprofits that fight poverty and support communities in need. So far, we’ve helped more than 4.25 million people experiencing extreme poverty - and we’re just getting started.

Our team is full of passionate, curious, and mission-driven people who love adventure and believe business can be a force for good. Whether you’re working from a retail shop, our Salt Lake City HQ, your home, or your van in the woods, you’ll find connection, collaboration, and a shared drive to make a difference.

Job Overview (What This Role Is All About):

Cotopaxi is looking for an experienced Packs & Equipment Merchandiser to own category strategy and execution as we enter the next phase of brand growth. This role drives both BTB sell-in and DTC business, sitting at the intersection of product, sales, marketing, and our EC team - requiring someone who is equally comfortable setting long-term category vision and rolling up their sleeves in the day-to-day.

We're intentionally open to a range of experience, from Manager to Associate Director. The scope of ownership and compensation will reflect what the right candidate brings. What matters most: deep expertise in the packs and/or equipment market, strong analytical instincts, and a genuine understanding of consumer behavior and product life cycle.

This role reports to the Chief Product Officer and sits within a merchandising team that's growing alongside the brand. If you're passionate about the packs and equipment space and want your work to fuel a global movement using business as a force for good, we'd love to hear from you.

Job Responsibilities (How You’ll Make An Impact):

• Own category sales and profitability, including in-season performance tracking, OTB management, and action-oriented responses to business trends.
• Build and drive seasonal product strategies grounded in marketplace analysis, internal analytics, and consumer trends - and gain cross-functional alignment across product, sales, marketing, and EC.
• Lead a 3-5 year assortment architecture roadmap, inclusive of full product life cycle planning and quarterly market share research presented at QBR meetings.
• Manage all aspects of line management from concept to commercialization, including line plan maintenance, product briefs, margin analysis, and retail assortment optimization across channels.
• Lead category presence at go-to-market meetings, trade shows, and sales meetings, including seasonal workbook creation, asset delivery, and cross-functional education on product features and benefits.
• Partner across design, development, and product functions to ensure execution aligns with category intent, profitability targets, and timelines.
• Manage special projects including SMU and Collaboration products, sample ordering strategy, and seasonal budget accountability.

The Ideal Candidate (What You’ll Bring to the Role):

• BA/BS in Business or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years in product line management or as a buyer/merchandiser in the outdoor or lifestyle industry; packs and/or equipment experience required.
• Demonstrated financial acumen, including OTB management and margin analysis.
• Experience leading go-to-market processes across BTB and DTC channels.
• Strong cross