Retail Area Manager Poland & Czech Rep

🔝 Reports to: Retail Operations Manager Europe

📑 Initial 12-month fixed-term contract, with permanent conversion thereafter

📍 Poland (remote)

📆 Start date: at the earliest convenience

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

Discover a world of diversity within our team of 700+ across 13 European countries, united by the common goal of elevating Columbia to the pinnacle of outdoor brands in Europe. Our omnichannel approach seamlessly integrates Columbia and Sorel brands' engaging in-store and online experiences.

We believe the outdoors is ours to protect and strive to keep our planet healthy. We believe in empowering people to experience the outdoors to the fullest.

And we believe in you.

ABOUT THE MISSION

Columbia is entering a new phase of retail expansion in Eastern Europe, with Poland and the Czech Republic at the heart of this growth.

Over the next two years, the region will grow to around 15–20 stores, combining owned outlet stores and a strong network of partner stores.

As Retail Area Manager, your mission is to build a high-performing, well-structured retail environment across both countries.

You will play a key role in:

• Driving performance across our own stores
• Building strong and stable store teams
• Ensuring consistent execution of our retail standards

Beyond execution, you will also act as a local expert, helping us better understand the market, the customers, and the operational realities of the region.

This is a hands-on role focused on making things happen on the ground, supporting both owned stores and partners, and contributing directly to the success of a fast-growing region.

HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Drive retail performance

• Monitor KPIs, identify performance gaps, and implement action plans
• Ensure consistent execution of Columbia standards across all locations

Lead and develop teams

• Recruit, coach, and develop Store Managers for owned stores
• Build strong, stable store teams in a growing environment

Support and influence partner stores

• Act as a trusted advisor to partners on:
  • Visual merchandising
  • Training & product knowledge
  • Performance management
• Build strong collaboration with wholesale teams

Own store openings

• Support new store launches (owned and partner)
• Ensure smooth execution from pre-opening to ramp-up

Bring local expertise

• Ensure compliance with local regulations (especially Poland)
• Adapt global processes to local realities
• Remove language and operational barriers

Be the link between HQ and the field

• Translate strategy into actionable plans
• Ensure alignment across Retail, Wholesale, HR, and HQ teams

YOU ARE

• A hands-on leader who leads by example, builds trust, and brings stability and structure to teams
• Analytical and driven: you make decisions based on data and know how to turn insights into action
• Solution-oriented and pragmatic, focusing on what works
• Resilient and committed, with a sense of accountability and pride in delivering results
• A strong communicator who knows how to adapt messages to local markets, teams, and customer habits
• Collaborative and team-spirited: you value shared success and contribute to a culture of mutual support across the European Retail team

YOU HAVE

• 6-8 years of experience as an Area Manager or District Manager in the Polish retail market, preferably within fashion, outdoor, or sporting goods. Retail experience in Czech Republic is a strong plus
• A deep understanding of Polish and Czech retail dynamics, from customer expectations to team management and local regulations
• A successful track record in recruiting, training, and developing retail leaders in multi-site environments
• Experience managing business KPIs, store budgets, and implementing action plans to drive growth and efficiency
• Full professional proficiency in English and Polish, Czech is a strong asset; experience working in international or matrix organizations is a plus
• High mobility required: ability to travel frequently and efficiently across Poland and the Czech Republic

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. Indeed, 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:

• 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 focus on your wellbeing to ensure that you can be your best self.
• Travel around Europe for seminars or staff event and expend your professional network.
• Benefit from special staff discount on our all products.

PERKS & BENEFITS

🎁 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 are committed to fostering a sense of belonging by encouraging personal connections at all levels, which creates a cohesive and supportive work environment.
• Team members serve as ambassadors for our brand, finding motivation in being part of an organization dedicated to activities they are passionate about. This dedication reflects our commitment to building a team that takes pride in our products and values.
• 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 of continuous learning enables our employees to identify and develop skills that will enable them to continue to grow within the company.
• "Unlock Your Potential" is the spirit that characterizes our vision of employees' development: to offer them opportunities to grow, in their job, in their 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 to help us connect active people with their passion! The hiring team will review your application in the following weeks.

2️⃣ If your application is selected: a 30-45mn introductory interview with our Talent Acquisition Team to talk about yourself, your motivations and the role

3️⃣ Interview with the hiring manager (online)

4️⃣ Final in-person interview

5️⃣ Your unique strengths align perfectly with our team: we are 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.