Role: Sports Merchandise Associate

Reports to: Director of Experience and Partnership Marketing  

Location: United States, remote with travel 

Position: Full-Time/Salaried 

Salary: $55,000

Application Deadline: TBA

About: USRowing is a nonprofit organization recognized by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee as the national governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. The organization’s mission is to steward, strengthen, and grow American rowing by championing performance and igniting new passion for the sport.

USRowing selects, trains, and manages the teams that represent the U.S. in international competition. The organization serves multiple constituencies including novice learn-to-rowers, parents of rowers, masters rowers, adaptive rowers, collegiate rowers, indoor rowers and, most recently, coastal rowers.

We are focused on growing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the sport of rowing on a national scale, on increasing support for our national team programs, and providing additional benefits and value to our over 77,000 individual members and 1,430 rowing organizations.

Job Summary: We are seeking an enthusiastic and innovative Sports Merchandise Associate to join our team and play a key role in enhancing our merchandise strategy, with a focus on high performance, member experience, and community inclusion. In this position, you will help create recognizable and popular sports merchandise and will execute engaging marketing and promotional campaigns that resonate with athletes, their families, fans, coaches, and stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have proven project management experience, and a strong vision on merchandising and marketing, enabling a comprehensive approach to this role. You will be required to attend on-site retail and activation events throughout the year, involving limited nationwide travel.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Merchandise Strategy. Research market trends and demands to guide product selection and development.
  • Apparel Collection Management. Collaborate with apparel partners, suppliers, distributors and other stakeholders to curate and design sport-specific apparel collections. Own the lifecycle of apparel collections from design through to retail, ensuring timely release, the online and in-person sales experience, and seasonal updates.
  • Custom Gear Management. Coordinate the design, production, and distribution of custom gear for various departments and needs within the organization, including camps, clinics, conferences, high performance athletes, and supporters. 
  • Project Management. Lead and oversee all merchandising initiatives, ensuring projects are completed on time, within scope, and within budget. Utilize project management tools and methodologies to track progress, address challenges, and ensure successful outcomes. 
  • Vendor and Partner Relations. Establish and maintain strong relationships with vendors, suppliers, and partners. Support negotiations and deals to maximize quality and profitability for the organization. 
  • Inventory Management & Quality Control. Oversee the inventory levels of all merchandise, ensuring optimal stock levels to maintain this customer experience. Ensure all merchandise meets or exceeds the organization's quality standards through feedback from customers, athletes, and other stakeholders.
  • Marketing and Promotions. Collaborate with MarCom, Member Services, Competition, and other USRowing teams to promote new merchandise releases and seasonal collections.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Minimum of 4 years of experience in merchandising, design, apparel or related field.
  • Tested project management skills with the ability to balance multiple initiatives and deadlines.
  • Excellent eye for design and apparel, and current trends in merchandising.
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal abilities for managing partners.
  • Proven track record of executing successful cross-department collaboration that support the successful promotion of merchandise.
  • Passion for sports, knowledge of rowing is a plus.

How to Apply: Apply online 

USRowing Values: USRowing is committed to the following values to fulfill its mission and achieve its priorities:

  • CULTURE OF MUTUAL RESPECT. Foster an inclusive culture honoring the rights, views, and inherent value of others, treating all with dignity and courtesy.
  • PROFESSIONALISM. Develop and share expertise, act effectively and efficiently, and be responsive and reliable, honoring all pledges and promises in a timely and trustworthy manner.
  • SAFETY. Be constantly mindful of safety on and off the water, taking proactive measures to prevent injury, abuse, or other harm, and help others both within USRowing and among member organizations.
  • INTEGRITY. Have the courage to choose what is right, adhere to the mission and practice our values rather than merely profess them. Employ the highest ethical standards, demonstrating honesty and fairness in every action we take.
  • FAIR COMPETITION. Commit to upholding the integrity of sport to ensure a level playing field devoid of doping, cheating or other forms of unfair advantage.
  • TEAMWORK. Work collaboratively and assume positive intent; support each other to combine individual strengths while keeping an eye on the greater good.
  • ENJOYMENT IN ALL ASPECTS OF SPORT. Create opportunities for involvement that promote a positive experience and lifelong love for rowing for all.

USRowing is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We are committed to growing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sport of rowing and believe that work begins in our own space. We believe diversity makes us stronger and encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds and life experiences to apply to join our team.