Manager, Performance Category Planning

Who We Are: 

Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today.

JOB MISSION:
New Balance’s Performance Global Business Unit (GBU) is responsible for creating industry-leading performance products with the goal of making athletes better every day.

To enable our long-term ambition, we are seeking a Category Planning Manager to help craft our global playbook that collaborates across functions to define and execute against category-specific strategic projects. You have a passion for bringing teammates together, driving alignment through collaboration, and a bias toward action. You are both a data and consumer advocate, with the ability to balance quantitative and qualitative data—not only to unlock stories in the data, but to develop recommendations and enact them within the organization. You can independently leverage available quantitative sales and marketplace data to support future strategic initiatives. You will participate in global strategic category planning and support the tracking and accountability of the global playbook. You will participate in key processes and meetings helping to keep projects on track to deliverable timing.

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Help develop strategic market/product line business plans to support sales in designated global market segments

• Structure complex problems, develop hypotheses, conduct analyses and suggest recommendations through a data-driven process

• Collect and analyze large datasets and summarize insights

• Develop compelling recommendations, communicated in high-quality output

• Support teams to identify opportunities, unlock productivity and accelerate execution

• Analyze market data to identify trends/opportunities, develop strategic direction from market data, and create compelling market analysis presentations

• Maintain tracking tools to ensure visibility across all strategy projects

• Pivot as needed to address unanticipated challenges and complexity in the business

• Build strong relationships with cross-functional partners

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS:

• 3–5 years of experience with a degree in Business, Project Management, Strategy and/or Marketing related field; MBA a plus

• Passion for running and/or sports, with experience in footwear, strategic development or retail industry a plus

• Experience driving (and solving) complex high-profile programs

• Experience presenting complex information to a variety of audiences

• Ability to handle multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced, global environment

• Experience executing and driving strategy

• Strong analytical background

Regular Associate Benefits 

Our products are only as good as the people we hire, so we make sure to hire the best and treat them accordingly. New Balance offers a comprehensive traditional benefits package including three options for medical insurance as well as dental, vision, life insurance and 401K. We also proudly offer a slate of more nontraditional perks – opportunities like online learning and development courses, tuition reimbursement, $100 monthly student loan support and various mentorship programs – that encourage our associates to grow personally as they develop professionally. You’ll also enjoy a yearly $1,000 lifestyle reimbursement, 4 weeks of vacations, 12 holidays and generous parental leave, because work-life balance is more than just a buzzword – it’s part of our culture.

Temporary associates are provided three options for medical insurance as well as dental and vision insurance and an associate discount.

Part time associates are provided 401k, short term disability, a yearly $300 lifestyle reimbursement and an associate discount.

Flexible Work Schedule

For decades we have fostered a unique culture founded on our values with a particular focus on in-person teamwork and collaboration. Our North American hybrid model encourages rich in-person experiences, showcasing our commitment to teamwork and connection, while maintaining flexibility for associates. New Balance Associates currently work in office three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thurs