Outdoor Apparel Key Account Manager

About the Role

Are you ready to take on a new challenge? Do you think like a business owner, operate with a service-first mindset, and have the discipline and follow-through to turn a strong plan into stronger results? At Ariat, we’re seeking a highly skilled Outdoor Apparel Key Account Manager who brings commercial ownership, service excellence, and an unrelenting drive to build. The Outdoor Apparel Key Account Manager will report to the Director of Sales Outdoor Accounts and you will serve as the primary business owner for some of the most strategic retail relationships in the Outdoor division.

This individual will be accountable for driving profitable sales growth, deepening retailer partnerships, and bringing a level of strategic rigor that elevates Ariat's presence with our retail relationships. If you're energized by high-visibility accounts, big growth potential, and the chance to make a measurable mark on a category, then this role is for you!

You’ll Make a Difference By

• Taking full ownership of account performance including revenue, margin, sell-through, and inventory health with the commercial accountability of a business owner
• Building and executing joint business plans that drive growth across both Ariat's and the retailer's objectives connecting strategy to sell-through with precision
• Delivering exceptional service to your retail partners responsive, proactive, and solutions-oriented even when the answer is complicated
• Developing assortment plans at the door level, managing model stock, forecasting, and markdown strategies with financial discipline and retail fluency
• Identifying and pursuing growth opportunities with the same energy you bring to protecting existing business, you are always thinking ahead
• Partnering cross-functionally with merchandising, marketing, operations, planning and finance to deliver on commitments and resolve issues before they become problems
• Representing Ariat in the market with professionalism, deep product knowledge, and a genuine commitment to the brand's mission and retail partners
• Assisting with other responsibilities based on business needs.

About You

• 5-7 years of experience in sales, buying, or account management — ideally with a major specialty or outdoor retail partner
• You run your accounts like a business: you know your numbers, manage your forecast, and take ownership of outcomes rather than circumstances
• You're built for growth businesses: energized by opportunity, undeterred by complexity, and capable of building something strong and durable
• Service is not a department to you: it's a standard you hold yourself to regardless of the situation, the timeline, or the difficulty of the request
• Strong planning and forecasting skills: you can build a business plan, defend a number, and adjust quickly when the market moves
• Excellent communicator: must be able to build trust with retail buyers and planning teams while representing Ariat's interests clearly and confidently
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the broader Office 365 suite; hands-on experience with Tableau for data visualization and business reporting
• Familiarity with retail analytics platforms (Circana, NPD, or similar) and the ability to translate syndicated data into a clear business narrative
• Comfort with order book management systems and retail portals, able to work fluently in a vendor's environment, not just your own
• Travel required +25%; physical ability to lift 50+ lbs in a field environment

About Ariat

Ariat is an innovative, outdoor global brand with roots in equestrian performance. We develop high-quality footwear and apparel for people who ride, work, and play outdoors, and care about performance, quality, comfort, and style.

The base salary range for this position is $80,000 - $90,000 per year. The total compensation for this position will also include commission and bonus opportunity.

The salary is determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data for geographic locations. Ariat in good faith believes that this posted compensation range is accurate for this role at this location at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.

Ariat’s holistic benefits package for full-time team members includes (but is not limited to):

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options
• Expanded wellness and mental health benefits
• Paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and paid volunteer days
• 401(k) with company match
• Bonus incentive plans
• Team member discount on Ariat merchandise

Note: Availability of benefits may be subject to location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements. Ariat reserves the right to alter these benefits in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.

Ariat will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws. Ariat is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics or any other basis protected under federal, state, or local law. Ariat is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to candidates with disabilities. If you need an accommodation during the application process, email human.resources@ariat.com.

Please see our Employment Candidate Privacy Policy at www.ariat.com/careers to learn more about how we collect, use, retain and disclose Personal Information.

Please note that Ariat does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Agreement, Ariat will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter/agency placement fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed Agreement, Ariat explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted directly to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Ariat.