Job Description

We don't just sell baselayers. We build playgrounds for women who refuse to sit on the sidelines.

Since 2002, Kari Traa has been on a mission to get more women outside - laughing, moving, and enjoying the challenge, on the slopes, on the trails, and everywhere in between. Bold colours. Bold attitude. No compromise on quality.

Now we're taking that energy off the rack and into the room. We're building real, physical spaces where our brand comes alive — in-store branded areas, shop-in-shops, pop-ups, and standout in-store moments across Norway and beyond. And we need someone to help lead the charge from the ground up.

Sound like you? Let's build something together.

The Role

As our Retail Partnership & Development Manager, you'll be the driving force behind how Kari Traa shows up in physical retail. You'll start close to the action — working hand-in-hand with our strategic retail partners to maximize our in-store presence — and grow the role as our retail ambitions grow. Think shop-in-shop concepts, pop-up activations, and one day, maybe even our own retail formats.

This isn't a role where you wait for a finished playbook. You'll help write it.

You'll report to our Head of Sales and work shoulder-to-shoulder with Sales, Design, Marketing, Logistics, and partners across the Active Brands group — plus key external players like landlords, implementation partners, and retail stakeholders.

What You'll Get Your Hands On

Right now: Strategic partnerships & in-store presence

• Build seasonal assortments with our priority retail partners, with an eye on shop-in-shop and in-store build potential

• Maximize Kari Traa's visibility on the shop floor — spotting and securing dedicated brand space

• Support sell-in, order management, and in-store execution alongside the Head of Sales

• Build the trusted relationships that pave the way for bigger things

Coming up: Brand experience & standards

• Audit existing retail environments and find where Kari Traa can shine brighter

• Set the bar with in-store brand standards — fixtures, signage, visual merchandising

• Partner with teams and accounts to elevate the in-store experience

The big leagues: Shop-in-shop rollout

• Lead operational planning and delivery of shop-in-shop concepts, starting in Norway and expanding internationally

• Work with implementation partners to hit brand and commercial standards every time

• Support negotiations on retail space and commercial terms

• Own delivery end-to-end — concept, build, launch, review

The frontier: Pop-ups & what's next

• Scout, assess, and prioritize pop-up opportunities across markets

• Run pop-up activations from first sketch to final sales report

• Help explore what a future Kari Traa retail format could look like

Always on: Commercial performance

• Build business cases that make the numbers (and the vision) clear

• Track performance, dig into the data, and turn insight into action

• Keep everything aligned with the bigger Active Brands picture — and share what you learn

What You Bring

• Solid experience in wholesale activation, commercial sales, or retail partnerships — bonus points if it's in apparel, sportswear, or lifestyle

• A track record of levelling up in-store brand presence, visual merchandising, or retail execution

• Curiosity (or hands-on experience) with shop-in-shop concepts and pop-up activations

• Sharp commercial and negotiation instincts, with real experience managing partner relationships

• The discipline to run a project from first idea to final review — and the energy to do it again

• Comfort working across functions — sales, design, marketing, logistics, all in the mix

• An eye for what looks good and sells well, with strong visual merchandising instincts

• A head for numbers and a habit of turning insight into action

• Top-notch organizational and stakeholder management skills

• Fluent English, written and spoken

Education: A bachelor's degree in Business, Retail Management, Marketing, or similar is preferred — additional retail or commercial qualifications are a definite plus.

Who You Are

• You're happy rolling up your sleeves on hands-on retail work today, with your eyes on a bigger role tomorrow

• You notice the details others miss — and you care about how a brand feels in a room

• You're entrepreneurial: you spot the gap and you fill it, no waiting for permission

• You thrive when priorities shift and the plan evolves mid-stride

• You can zoom from spreadsheet to shop floor without missing a beat

• You're a team player who's proud to represent Kari Traa across the wider Active Brands family

• You're genuinely fired up about building brand experiences people remember

How We'll Know You're Crushing It

• Stronger, deeper retail partner relationships and commercial results

• Visibly better in-store presence and execution standards

• Shop-in-shop concepts launched, scaled, and performing

• Pop-up opportunities found and delivered

• Sales, profitability, and ROI trending the right direction

• Projects landing on time and on budget

• Merchandising and customer experience getting sharper every season

One More Thing

This role is built to grow — just like the women who wear our gear. You'll start by getting your hands dirty in retail partnerships and in-store execution, and as our retail strategy takes shape, so will your role: shop-in-shops, pop-ups, and the future of Kari Traa retail.

If you want today's wins and tomorrow's bigger picture — if you're ready to help shape where Kari Traa shows up next — we want to hear from you.

Ready for a challenge and a whole lot of fun along the way? Get in touch!