Retail Area Manager Italy

🔝 Retail Operations Manager Europe

📑 Initial 12-month fixed-term contract, with permanent conversion thereafter (livello quadro)

📍 Italy, remote

📆 Start date: January 2027

OUTGROWN YOUR OWN BACKYARD? COME PLAY IN OURS.

At Columbia Sportswear, we’re as passionate about the outdoors as you are. And while our gear is available worldwide, we’re proud to be based in the Pacific Northwest, where natural wonders are our playground.

Every product we make and every task we undertake is inspired by the famous words of our founder Gert Boyle: “It’s perfect. Now make it better.” As pioneers of relentless improvement, we are constantly evolving.

And we believe in you.

ABOUT THE MISSION

Columbia is entering a new phase of retail expansion in Italy.

Today, our Italian retail network includes 8 owned and operated stores, with additional openings planned in the near future. Alongside the continued development of our own store portfolio, we are also launching and growing a network of Partner Stores.

As Retail Area Manager Italy, your mission will be to drive the performance of our existing stores while preparing the organization for its next stage of growth.

Drive sustainable performance across our owned and operated stores

Lead and develop experienced Store Managers and their teams

Support the opening and ramp-up of new owned and partner-operated locations

Build trusted relationships with our retail partners

Ensure a consistent Columbia experience across all locations

Italy is an established and well-managed retail market for Columbia, supported by experienced and autonomous Store Managers. This role is about unlocking further potential, providing direction to strong teams, and building the structure required to support an expanding network.

This is a hands-on, field-oriented position for someone who understands the realities of multi-site retail and wants to contribute directly to one of Columbia’s growing European markets.

HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Drive the performance of our Italian retail network

Take ownership of sales, profitability, operational efficiency, and customer experience across our Italian stores

Use KPIs and field insights to identify opportunities and translate them into clear action plans

Ensure consistent execution of Columbia’s retail standards across all locations

Lead and develop our Store Managers

Lead, coach, and constructively challenge experienced Store Managers

Recruit and onboard Store Managers for new locations

Build strong and stable teams capable of supporting the continued growth of the Italian business

Support the expansion of our retail network

Lead the operational preparation and launch of new owned and partner-operated stores

Coordinate teams and internal stakeholders from pre-opening through to ramp-up

Adapt European retail strategies and standards to the realities of the Italian market

Build successful relationships with our Partner Stores

Build trusted relationships with our retail partners and support the development of their stores

Use your retail expertise to influence performance and operational execution without direct authority

Work closely with Wholesale and European support teams to deliver a consistent Columbia experience

YOU ARE

A hands-on retail leader who stays close to stores, teams, and customers

Autonomous and accountable, with the judgment to make sound decisions and involve others when needed

Commercially driven and analytical, able to turn data and field observations into action

A credible coach who can guide and constructively challenge experienced Store Managers

Pragmatic and solution-oriented, comfortable moving between strategic priorities and operational details

A strong communicator who can adapt their approach when leading internal teams or influencing independent partners

Resilient, flexible, and comfortable with the travel and schedule realities of a field-based retail role

Collaborative and committed to shared success across the European Retail organization

YOU HAVE

Solid experience as an Area Manager, District Manager, or in a comparable multi-site retail leadership role in the Italian market

A successful track record managing owned and operated stores, ideally within fashion, outdoor, sporting goods, or another customer-focused retail environment

Strong experience managing business KPIs, store budgets, and action plans to drive sales, profitability, and operational efficiency

Demonstrated experience recruiting, coaching, and developing Store Managers and retail teams

A deep understanding of Italian retail dynamics, customer expectations, and local people-management practices

Experience supporting franchisees or retail partners is an advantage, but not a requirement

Experience working in an international or matrix organization is a plus

Full professional proficiency in Italian and English

High mobility and the ability to travel frequently throughout Italy

A valid driving licence

WHY JOINING US?

You will have the opportunity to work for a company that has a positive impact on the people we reach, the places we touch, and the products we make. One of our core values is to do the right thing, not just for our company, but also for our consumers, customers, employees, and their communities.

On top of that, you will have the chance to:

Take a central role in shaping the next stage of Columbia’s retail growth in Italy

Build new skills, develop your potential, and grow within our company

Join an inclusive employer where diversity and equity lead to creativity and empowerment

Be part of a company that focuses on your wellbeing so you can be your best self

Travel around Europe for seminars and staff events and expand your professional network

Benefit from special staff discounts across our products

PERKS & BENEFITS

🍴 Meal vouchers (€ 7)

🎁 Significant discounts on Columbia and Sorel products

📚 Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning

👩‍🏫 Unlock your potential: access to in-house training courses (feedback, leadership, Insights®...)

🌈 DEI initiatives to exchange and strengthen our involvement around these themes

ABOUT THE CULTURE

At Columbia Sportswear, we value an inclusive and open culture that emphasizes the absence of barriers between team members. We foster a sense of belonging by encouraging personal connections at all levels.

Team members serve as ambassadors for our brand, motivated by being part of an organization dedicated to activities they are passionate about.

We offer the opportunity to work for a US-based company within a multicultural environment, where your job has an impact across different countries.

Our “Always Be Learning” culture enables employees to identify and develop the skills they need to continue growing within the company.

“Unlock Your Potential” characterizes our vision of employee development: offering opportunities to grow in your job, in your team, or even to change jobs completely. We grow our people to grow our business.

To learn more about us and our culture, visit our page on Welcome To The Jungle: https://bit.ly/49bl1i5

ABOUT THE HIRING PROCESS

1️⃣ Ready to unlock your potential at Columbia Sportswear Company? Apply now. The hiring team will review your application in the following weeks

2️⃣ A 30–45-minute conversation with our Talent Acquisition Team about your experience, motivations, and the role

3️⃣ An online interview with the Retail Operations Manager Europe.

4️⃣ A final in-person conversation

5️⃣ If your unique strengths align with our team, we will be thrilled to extend you an offer


 This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company.


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