Cotopaxi is a B Corporation that makes adventure travel gear to empower people to see the world and make it better. Our Gear for Good^Ⓡ promise is to make our products as ethically, sustainably, and durably as possible, while having a positive social, environmental, and economic impact. We dedicate 1% of revenue to the Cotopaxi Foundation, which supports nonprofit partners with proven track records of alleviating poverty. Through our Foundation to date, we have helped more than 4.25 million individuals experiencing extreme poverty. For more information, visit www.cotopaxi.com.

Cotopaxi is a company that values people, innovation, and adventure and our work environment reflects just that. Whether you are working from one of our retail stores, our headquarters, your couch at home, or even your van in the woods, you’ll feel the camaraderie of our amazing team of visionaries, builders and go-getters. We are a team of adventurous, mission-driven people looking to prove that business CAN be a force for good.

Job Overview (What This Role Is All About):
The Assistant Merchant will play a key role in supporting Cotopaxi’s product merchandising strategy through the next phase of brand growth. This position will assist with day-to-day merchandising operations across apparel and gear categories, helping to drive a cohesive product line that balances innovation, sustainability, and market demand.

Reporting to the SVP of Product Merchandising, this role will partner closely with cross-functional teams to manage product data, conduct market research, and support line planning from concept through commercialization. The Assistant Merchant will ensure accuracy across PLM systems, maintain category insights, and contribute to the creation of sales tools and go-to-market materials.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, analytical, and curious - someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and brings both creative and strategic thinking to the table. This is an exciting opportunity to grow within a mission-driven company that uses business as a force for good, helping to deliver gear that inspires adventure and impacts communities worldwide.

Job Responsibilities (How You’ll Make An Impact):

Maintain and update product data within PLM (Centric) and supporting systems, ensuring all information is accurate and up to date.
Support the full product lifecycle by managing line maintenance, pricing updates, and data integrity across key tools and reports.
Partner cross-functionally to ensure smooth end-to-end line management - from strategic planning through commercialization.
Conduct seasonal market research and competitive analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and insights that inform category strategy.
Assist in assortment planning, margin analysis, and inventory management to optimize product performance and profitability.
Contribute to category and department forecasting by supporting key planning milestones (OTB, BR, etc.).
Coordinate seasonal SMS (Salesman Sample) assortments for internal and external use, ensuring timely ordering, delivery, and accuracy across all sets.
Support the creation of sales tools, product specs, and go-to-market presentations that bring each season’s assortment to life.
Manage competitor sample ordering and organization throughout each development season.
Support sample coordination and tracking to support cross-functional alignment and key milestone meetings.
Lead the development and briefing of hang tags and packaging, ensuring consistency with brand standards, sustainability goals, and product storytelling.
Serve as the key point of contact for customer experience (CX) and product-related inquiries, ensuring timely, thoughtful, and accurate responses.
Communicate effectively and proactively across teams to ensure visibility, alignment, and timely execution.
Gradually assume ownership of designated product categories, contributing to long-term merchandising strategy and growth.

The Ideal Candidate (What You’ll Bring to the Table):

Who You Are:
You’re a creative and strategic thinker with a strong analytical mindset and a passion for great product. You’re equally comfortable zooming out to think big-picture as you are rolling up your sleeves to manage the details. Highly organized and adaptable, you thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and enjoy solving problems in new and thoughtful ways. Above all, you’re inspired by Cotopaxi’s mission and motivated to use your work as a force for good.

Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree in Business or a related field, or equivalent experience.
2-3 years of experience in merchandising or as an assistant/coordinator within the outdoor or lifestyle product industry, with emphasis on Apparel and/or Packs/Equipment.
Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to juggle multiple cross-functional priorities and timelines.

Job Benefits (The Perks):

We deeply care about our employees and are proud of our commitment and investment in our team. We prioritize wages and benefits and always keep the employee experience in mind as we work to create a quality work-life balance for everyone.

Here is a snapshot of the benefits we provide:

Core Benefits:

Medical, dental and vision benefits with HSA, FSA, and DCSA options.
Company paid basic life insurance with the option to purchase additional coverage.
Voluntary short-term and long-term disability coverage.
Voluntary accident and critical illness insurance.
Company paid employee assistance program.

Wellness Benefits:

Company paid mental health benefits.
Company paid volunteer time.
401(k) plan with employer match.
Unlimited responsible PTO.
In The Wild Days: Two company-wide days off to recharge, reconnect, and embrace what inspires you.

Uniquely Us:

Enjoy deep product discounts with 60% off Cotopaxi gear—perfect for living out your next adventure in style.
Gear up for the outdoors with exclusive discounts from partner outdoor and lifestyle brands.
Grow personally and professionally through thoughtfully curated learning and development opportunities.
Stay connected and celebrate often with regular in-person and virtual events that bring our team together, no matter where you work.
Be part of a vibrant, values-driven culture that champions people, innovation, and adventure in everything we do.

As a mission-driven brand, Cotopaxi is not only hyper aware of but also deeply invested in putting people first and paving the way as a humanitarian brand. We welcome, embrace and celebrate all people regardless of gender, age, race, disability, nationality, ethnicity, faith, or sexual orientation. We believe in Doing Good, and how we’re involved with that has no limits.

No matter what experience you have within the outdoor industry we encourage you to apply. At Cotopaxi we believe that experience comes from a variety of places. We look for individuals who thrive on challenges, are passionate about doing good, and believe that collaboration and radical candor are necessary for success. Show us how your experiences have shaped you and how you can contribute to Cotopaxi in our mission to Do Good. We can’t wait for you to share with us your personal story!

Cotopaxi participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

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