THE ROLE & THE TEAM Our vision is to inspire customers to live an active lifestyle. We are proud of our focus on deep customer relationships and continue to invest to deepen them even further. In this, we see Sports as a growth area and our Sports team leverages the full spectrum of the Zalando Platform and brings the very best of Zalando to our customers. As a Team Lead for one of our key Sports categories, you lead and develop a team of experienced Category Managers, who are responsible for creating a clearly defined assortment strategy and take ownership for its execution and delivery. You start always with a customer-first mindset, you lead the strategic definition of the category and the main drivers of success. You manage the budget for this business and you are responsible for the partner relations in your category in order to achieve your annual financial ambitions and sustainable growth. The Football and Specialty Sports teams are pivotal in our strategy to be the best Sports Multi-Specialist in Europe and growth drivers for Zalando Sports. In Specialty we cover Sports such as Basketball, Tennis, Handball, Cycling, Swimming, and Golf. INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN At Zalando, our vision is to be inclusive by design. And this vision starts with our hiring - we do not discriminate on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation, personal expression, ethnicity, religious belief, or disability status. You are welcome to leave out your picture, age, or marital status from your application. We only assess candidates on their qualifications and merit. We want to provide you with a great candidate experience. Feel free to inform us of any accommodations you may need, so we can best support you throughout the hiring process. do.BETTER - our diversity & inclusion strategy: https://corporate.zalando.com/en/our-impact/dobetter-our-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy Our employee resource groups: https://corporate.zalando.com/en/our-impact/our-employee-resource-groups WHAT WE'D LOVE YOU TO DO (AND LOVE DOING) Leading people is your passion. You will be fully responsible for leading, coaching and developing your team by identifying their strengths, development areas and training needs. You will look after a team across various levels from Assistant Buyers through to Senior Buyer. You put customer experience first, regardless of the business model we apply with a partner. You will provide strategic and creative direction and will guide your teams via a holistic assortment strategy of your Sport Type. You guide your team in sourcing new brands and relevant assortments. You are passionate about product and trends and knowledgeable about the sports industry. You drive the strategy and help to identify strategic marketing & product stories alongside the Marketing & Country teams Owning and managing the performance of the Category, you will work closely with the Platform Team and Merchandise Planning to drive sales and maximise profitability. You take responsibility for owning and driving In-Season KPIs. Maximising relationships, you will build strong, trustful long term partnerships with the biggest brands for this unit such as working very closely with the strategic partners. You possess strong negotiation skills and the ability to take a strategic view on maximising joint long term potential. WE'D LOVE TO MEET YOU IF… 8 years of relevant Category, Commercial, Strategy and/or Marketing & Sales experience at a management level within a fast-paced Sports company, ideally with E-commerce experience. You are strategic and are able to manage multiple stakeholders effectively. You understand and are motivated by the challenges of the fashion e-com business. You are a natural leader who shapes teams and brings relevant experience in leading a larger team. You are a Sports Enthusiast yourself, stay informed and well connected in the industry to understand trends and shape the future of it Strong analytical skills are required to be successful in the role and strong business acumen in decision making OUR OFFER Zalando provides a range of benefits, here’s an overview of what you can expect. Ask your Talent Acquisition Partner to learn more about what we offer. Employee shares program 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Zalando Lounge, discounts from external partners 2 paid volunteering days a year Hybrid working model with 60% (or more) remote per week, actual practice is up to each team to best support their collaboration Work from abroad for up to 30 working days a year 27 days of vacation a year (for Zalando SE) Relocation assistance available (subject to prior agreement) Family services, including counseling and support Health and wellbeing options (including Gympass) Mental health support and coaching available Learn all about Zalando and our values here: https://jobs.zalando.com/en/?gh_src22377bdd1us