Category Manager - Hats

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