Category Manager - Sneakers

About the Role

StockX, a global marketplace for current culture, is seeking a Category Manager for its foundational Sneakers category. This role is central to a new, high-priority commerce initiative focused on creator-driven, community-oriented commerce experiences. The ideal candidate will be an expert in sneaker culture, economics, and community, responsible for driving growth in supply, engagement, and gross merchandise value (GMV). This position offers the opportunity to be an internal authority on the sneaker ecosystem, an external representative to sellers and creators, and the architect of the go-to-market strategy for this new initiative. As the category expands, there is potential to lead a broader sneaker portfolio and team.

What You'll Do

• Define and execute the strategic growth plan for the sneakers category within the platform.
• Oversee and manage category performance, focusing on supply acquisition, user engagement, and revenue generation.
• Establish clear quarterly objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs), and operational cadences.
• Maintain an in-depth, up-to-date understanding of sneaker culture, including key influencers, sub-segments, market trends, and resale economics.
• Act as the primary advocate for the sneaker community, providing insights to inform product development, marketing campaigns, and platform enhancements.
• Develop and manage a robust pipeline of significant sneaker sellers, shops, influencers, and creators.
• Personally recruit and onboard key sellers to set the standard for the platform.
• Create seller engagement strategies that emphasize authenticity, storytelling, and commercial success.
• Identify and implement sneaker-specific campaigns, events, and commerce formats to boost engagement and sales.
• Collaborate with the Category Marketing team to develop culturally relevant promotional activities.
• Proactively test new strategies and rapidly adapt based on performance data and user feedback.
• Work closely with Account and Partnerships Managers to scale seller acquisition and support efforts.
• Partner with Product and Engineering teams to influence the development of features and tools beneficial to sneaker sellers and buyers.
• Provide clear, data-driven market insights to guide roadmap prioritization.
• Document successful frameworks, learnings, and best practices for potential application in other categories.
• Help establish the benchmark for excellence in category management at StockX.
• Contribute to the hiring and onboarding process as the sneaker category team grows.

About You

• Possess a deep understanding of sneaker culture, including its key figures, platforms, trends, and economic dynamics, with active engagement in the ecosystem.
• Have a minimum of 5 years of experience in category management, partnerships, marketplace growth, brand management, or operational roles within the sneaker, streetwear, or related industries.
• Demonstrate a strong ability to own and drive outcomes, not just strategic planning, with a proven track record of execution, iteration, and adaptation.
• Exhibit excellent relationship-building skills and possess credibility with sellers, creators, and community members.
• Be data-literate and commercially astute, with a solid grasp of pricing, margins, liquidity, and incentive structures.
• Display an entrepreneurial spirit, resourcefulness, and enthusiasm for building initiatives from the ground up.

Nice to Have

• An established network of sneaker resellers, store owners, creators, or influencers.
• Prior experience buying and selling sneakers or operating within resale marketplaces.
• Familiarity with content-driven commerce, creator platforms, or enthusiast communities.
• Previous experience collaborating with product and engineering teams.

Why This Role Matters

The success of this new commerce initiative at StockX will be significantly influenced by the Sneakers category. This role is pivotal in setting the cultural standard for the platform, establishing the go-to-market and growth blueprint for future categories, and reinforcing StockX's credibility within the sneaker community. You will have a substantial impact on how StockX expands its leadership from a marketplace to deeper cultural engagement.

Additional Information

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and any other state or local hiring regulations, we will consider for employment any qualified applicant, including those with arrest and conviction records, in a manner consistent with the applicable regulation. Pursuant to the Colorado Fair Pay Act, the base salary range in Colorado for this position is $120,000 to $130,000, plus opportunities for benefits (e.g., medical, dental), equity and discretionary bonuses. Compensation in other geographies may vary. StockX is a Detroit-based technology leader focused on the online market for sneakers, apparel, accessories, electronics, collectibles, trading cards, and more. Our platform connects buyers and sellers globally using dynamic pricing. We employ over 1,000 people worldwide. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. This job description is intended to convey essential information about the role's scope and the general nature and level of work performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all qualifications, skills, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions. StockX reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. StockX may utilize AI to rank job applicant submissions against the position requirements to assist in determining candidate alignment.