Job Description
Job Description
Employee Mission
As an employee at Coolibar, you play a vital role in advancing our mission: to keep the world safe from sun damage, protecting those with sun-related medical conditions and helping prevent it for everyone else. You are part of a collaborative, cross-functional team dedicated to delivering the most innovative, user-centric UPF 50+ clothing and products, empowering people to live active, outdoor lives with confidence and safety in the sun.
Job Summary
The Hat Category Manager is a passionate hat enthusiast who will drive the strategic direction, merchandising, and product development of Coolibar's hat portfolio. This position is fundamentally user-centric, deeply committed to understanding customer needs, gathering continuous user feedback, and developing products that align with the brand mission of sun protection while meeting real-world usage requirements. This position reports to the Product Director.
Duties and Responsibilities
Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
- Develop products that align with Coolibar's sun protection mission and meet real customer needs
- Continuously gather user feedback through testing sessions and User Group sample reviews
- Champion the customer voice throughout the product development process
- Drive end-to-end product development from concept through production to delivery
- Lead merchandising planning including assortment strategy, pricing, and seasonal line plans
- Analyze sales data, market trends, and customer insights to optimize the hat portfolio
- Source and evaluate fabrics, trims, and hat-specific construction methods
- Specify technical requirements including crown heights, brim widths, sizing systems, and closures
- Oversee fit and quality standards for all hat styles
- Conduct personal wear-testing of prototypes and production samples
- Perform and document in-house UV testing of fabrics and production units
- Manage production timelines and coordinate with suppliers on manufacturing requirements
- Address quality issues through root cause analysis
- Maintain Tech Pack library, fabric catalog, and trim library for hat category
- Utilize PLM system with accurate product data
- Coordinate compliance and regulatory testing for all hat products
Qualifications
- Genuine passion for hats and headwear with deep understanding of hat construction, fit, and sizing
- BA/BS in Retail Merchandising or Apparel and Textiles
- 5+ years of combined experience in product development and merchandising/buying, preferably with focus on hats or accessories
- Proven ability to gather and apply user feedback to drive product improvements
- Experience with Adobe Creative Suite
- Working knowledge of cut & sew construction and fit concepts
- Experience with textiles and trims
- Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
- Experience with PLM systems a plus
- Strong attention to detail and ability to resolve issues
- Analytical and mathematical skills
- User-centric mindset deeply committed to understanding and solving customer needs
- Assertiveness and strong initiative
- Ability to meet deadlines and work in a team environment
- Excellent organizational skills
- Self-motivated and able to work independently
Job Tags
Seasonal work,