Thule Group – Director Category Management, Sport & Cargo

Thule Group, a global premium outdoor lifestyle brand, is now looking for Director Category Management, Sport & Cargo.

Are you a dynamic, strategic and results-driven leader? Do you have extensive experience in category management, possess excellent communication skills and are ready to make an impact a global role with Thule Group? If so, this position is for you!

About the Role

As Director of Category Management, Sport & Cargo at Thule Group, you will have the exciting responsibility of leading our largest category – Sport & Cargo. This category includes Roof Racks, Boxes & Baskets, and specialized racks for seasonal sports and trucks, all central to Thule’s brand and growth strategy. By leveraging industry insights and consumer data, you will lead the evolution of the product portfolio, shape channel strategies, and execute pricing and promotional activities to ensure this category continues to deliver profitable growth.

This role is based at our headquarters in Malmö, Sweden. In 2025, we will relocate to newly renovated offices in Dockan. You will report to the Vice President of Category Management and lead a team of four direct reports.

Key Responsibilities

• Overall responsibility for product strategy and commercial planning within the Sport & Cargo category.
• Manage the product portfolio, channel strategy, pricing, and promotion within the category
• Drive profitable growth with full P&L responsibility.
• Develop three-year strategic plans, annual budgets, and performance metrics.
• Drive innovation and evolution of the product portfolio
• Based on consumer insights and trends drive evolution of the portfolio including product development planning.
• Develop 3-5 year product innovation pipeline with breakthrough product ideas.
• Ensure excellence in execution of Marketing and Commercial activities
• Brief product campaign and launch needs with Brand & Marketing teams to deliver impactful go-to-market strategies and scaling
• Collaborate with the Global Retail Concept Director on in-store display, merchandising and activations.
• Partner with Digital Solution and Performance Marketing team to drive traffic, conversion etc.
• Effectively Sell-in ideas and initiatives across the organization
• Ensure impactful training through sales meetings, trade shows, store visits etc.
• Lead and inspire a team of Product managers
• With clear vision you create team engagement and achieve high performance

Your Profile

We are looking for a dynamic, leader with a strong background in product and category management. You are a high-energy, goal-oriented individual, driven by achieving results.

You possess strong analytical and strategic skills and a solid business mind-set. With a structured work approach, you effectively balance operational and strategic tasks.

As an inspirational and confident leader and communicator, you have the ability to motivate cross-functional teams and sell your ideas across the organization.

With a solution-oriented mindset, you’re comfortable managing complex projects across multiple regions and stakeholders. With a proactive “can do” attitude, you are focused on finding solutions, taking initiative, and maintaining a positive approach to challenges.

The nature of the work requires networking with other parts of the organization, where you have a great ability to collaborate and build strong relationships.

Within Thule Group you will find people who have a passion for the products we make and for enjoying and protecting the outdoors. So not least, we believe you share our devotion.

Your background

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field
• Minimum 10 years of experience in category management, marketing or sales leadership roles.
• Proven track record in full lifecycle management
• Experience building and leading high performing teams across multiple regions
• Proficiency in QlikView or QlikSense is a plus

Thule offers you

We believe in strong teamwork both within your own team but also across teams. We strive to be an open and curious organization, sharing our knowledge and inspiring one another.

We offer our employees both great freedom and responsibility. You will have the opportunity to work in an international environment with many contact areas and great opportunities to grow and develop.

If you want to be part of a thriving company with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation this is the right place for you.

How to apply

In this recruitment process, Thule Group is partnering up with Academic Search. For more question, please contact Senior Consultant Anette Nordgaard anette.nordgaard@academicsearch +46 70 1756424 or Researcher Sandra Dabbour, sandra.dabbour@academicsearch.se. All information is handled confidentially in accordance with Academic Search Integrity Policy as well as the new data protection act, GDPR. This means that we can only process applications coming through the applications system. Thank you for your understanding.

We look forward to your application, November 25:th at the latest.

About Thule Group

Thule Group is a global sports and outdoor company. We offer high-quality products with smart features and a sustainable design that make it easy for people across the globe to live an active life. Under the motto Active Life, Simplified — and with a focus on consumer-driven innovation and long-term sustainability — we develop, manufacture and market products within the product categories Sport&Cargo Carriers (roof racks, roof boxes and carriers for transporting cycling, water and winter sports equipment, and rooftop tents mounted on a car), Juvenile & Pet Products (car seats, strollers, bike trailers,child bike seats and dog transport), RV Products (awnings, bike carriers and tents for RVs and caravans) and Packs, Bags & Luggage (hiking backpacks, luggage, laptop- and camera bags).

Thule Group has about 2,600 employees at nine production facilities and 35 sales offices worldwide. The Group’s products are sold in 138 markets and in 2023, sales amounted to SEK 9.1 billion.

www.thulegroup.com.