Manager, Global Product Line - Volleyball/Indoor Court Sports

At ASICS, our Sound Mind, Sound Body™ philosophy is more than a tagline, it’s our way of life. Over 75 years ago our founder, Kihachiro Onitsuka, saw that sport and movement had the power to lift spirits, project positivity, and propel people and whole communities forward.

ASICS provides a diverse and inclusive culture that enables learning, growth, and opportunity at all levels. Our robust employee benefits allow for real work-life balance and a strong sense of community.  We empower our employees to pursue their career goals.  If this sounds like you, then we want you on our team.

POSITION SUMMARY:

ASICS has identified Core Performance Sports (CPS) as a strategic growth category, with indoor court sports (including volleyball, handball, and badminton), representing a significant acceleration opportunity globally.

The Global Product Line Manager, Indoor Court Sports (Volleyball Priority) is responsible for managing the product cycle for ASICS’s global indoor court sports footwear portfolio, with an initial emphasis on volleyball. Working within ACC’s triad-based creation model (product management, design, and development), this role drives line planning, GTM execution, and cross-functional coordination for indoor court categories, ensuring products are aligned with ASICS’s commercial expectations, profitability goals, and athlete performance needs. The Manager operates in a post-development environment, ensuring the transfer of all product information and line plans from concept stage through GTM.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This role does not currently have direct reports. As the indoor court sports category grows within ACC, there is potential for this position to take on coordination of junior team members or product line coordinators.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage the global product line for indoor court sports footwear, with volleyball as the lead category as well as other indoor disciplines (handball, badminton, etc.).


• Identify market potential for all managed items (inline styles and future concepts) across indoor court sport categories.


• Create the seasonal line plan and Architecture Cuts, defining the optimal product mix that balances athlete performance needs, regional market requirements, and commercial targets.


• Responsible for pricing and marketplace positioning, proper channel segmentation, item forecasting, and product lifecycle management for all indoor court sports styles.


• Support category revenue and margin targets by ensuring the line plan delivers against business objectives and profitability goals.


• Develop consumer-led product briefs that translate athlete needs and marketplace dynamics into clear product direction for design and development partners.


• Communicate effectively with key members of the product triad (design and development) and other key global partners based in Japan (merchandising, category strategy, marketing).


• Partner with regional merchandisers around the globe to evaluate inline items and future concepts to ensure success in the marketplace for indoor court sports.


• Plan, organize, and coordinate assigned product concept briefs for indoor court sports footwear.


• Manage assigned resources to achieve deliverables. Work in conjunction with Global Marketing to map out proper direction and support for successful GTM.


• Collaborate with Merchandising to analyze historical sell-in and sell-out data to make informed decisions for future product lines and new model introductions.


• Travel to key markets and indoor court sporting events to gain optimal market understanding and discover opportunities. Map out market trends for indoor court sport categories.


• Lead the insight gathering of the target consumers, from elite competitive players to recreational and club-level participants.


• Maintain relationships within the indoor court sports community to understand shifts at the grassroots and organizational level that should inform product direction.


• Update seasonal competitor matrix, clearly mapping technologies and price points for all competing indoor court styles.


• Work closely with Consumer Insight and Merchandising teams in preparation of the seasonal plan.


• Drive the seasonal development of the product line through global design reviews and sample review meetings.


• Comfortable presenting to a global team for a wide range of meetings including briefings, sample meetings, merchandising and sales meetings.


• Participate in product testing and validation with indoor court athletes and teams to build insights that inform future briefs.


• Identify innovation opportunities specific to indoor court sports, collaborating with ACC’s Innovation team.


• Integrate sustainability considerations into the product creation process, consistent with ASICS’s corporate sustainability commitments.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Ability to provide solutions to support business needs through creative problem solving and creative innovation.


• Ability to work independently and perform a variety of tasks with different levels of complexity by developing effective plans and organizing work efficiently.


• Attention to detail, ability to multitask and prioritize tasks with strict deadlines.


• Strong quantitative and analytical skills with attention to detail and accuracy.


• Operates with curiosity, with an ability to manage ambiguity and push through business challenges with a focus on continuous development.


• Knowledge of indoor court sports (particularly volleyball) including athlete needs, playing surfaces, and performance footwear requirements.


• Ability to translate consumer and athlete insights into clear product briefs.


• Working knowledge of the footwear product management process, retail environment, and consumer buying habits.


• Technical background with understanding of materials, fit, function, and end-user requirements specific to court sports footwear.


• Comprehensive understanding of product development, manufacturing, and the retail buying process.


• Schedule flexibility to manage regular evening calls with Asia.


• Ability to travel domestically and internationally approximately 20% of the year (with minimum 2 trips/year to Japan).

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Customer Focus


• Innovation & Creativity


• Collaboration & Mutual Respect


• Leadership


• Results Driven

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• 3–5 years’ experience in product management within the sporting goods, athletic footwear, or performance equipment industry.


• Experience in or strong familiarity with indoor court sports (volleyball preferred)—through product management, competitive play, coaching, or category immersion.


• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Retail Merchandising, Product Development, Sports Management, or equivalent work experience.


• Experience working with international cultures and in an international environment.


• Report generating and analytical experience related to merchandising, financials, and sales.


• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

In general, the following physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to allow differently abled individuals to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Must be able to see, hear, speak, and write clearly to communicate with employees and/or other customers.


• Manual dexterity required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

In general, the following conditions of the work environment are representative of those that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow differently abled individuals to perform the essential functions of the job within the environment.

SALARY RANGE: $72,400 - $90,500, Actual base pay will vary based on factors such as but not limited to relevant experience, equitable pay practices and time in position.  

ASICS CCPA Pre-Collection Notice for Job Applications: We collect personal information (PI) from you in connection with your application for employment with ASICS Creation Center LLC, including the following categories of PI: identifiers, personal records, professional or employment information, and inferences drawn from your PI. We collect your PI for our purposes, including performing services and operations related to your potential employment. For additional details or if you have questions, contact us at [email protected].

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employee(s) assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employee(s) assigned to this job. ASICS Creation Center LLC reserves the right at any time, with or without notice, to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities within your general skill set or capabilities.  ASICS Creation Center LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.