Merchandise Product Manager

RTS is an enthusiast culture company that builds at the intersection of gaming, creators, and brands. From global live events to bespoke branded content, we exist to create meaningful connections between fans and the worlds they love. Our team brings deep expertise across partnership sales and marketing, talent management, event production, media, community building, and IP development.

About Evo

For over 20 years, The Evolution Championship Series (Evo), has produced the largest and

longest-running fighting game tournament conventions in the world. Our events are rallying

points where fans, publishers, developers, and brands celebrate fighting games and the

communities that love them. Beyond our established live events, Evo's mission continues to evolve to create, celebrate, and renew fighting game fandom.

Role Overview

As the Merchandise Product Manager, you will own Evo's merchandise product end-to-end: from concept and design direction through production, sourcing, pricing, inventory, and fulfillment across every Evo event globally, including international territories.

You are ultimately responsible for the creative direction and look of Evo's merchandise, working closely with designers and production partners to translate brand and event strategy into an actual assortment of sellable SKUs. You'll source and manage design contractors, own relationships with vendors (apparel and non-apparel), and negotiate pricing against COGS and vendor quotes. For international events, you'll manage production through our international partners where they can produce and sell on-site, and line up and manage local vendors directly where no partner infrastructure exists.

You'll also own inventory and allocation across both e-commerce and live events. This role operates within a set budget: you'll execute against it, flag cost and margin issues early, and bring pricing and assortment recommendations to leadership for sign-off.

Reporting Structure

You will initially report to the Director of Marketing.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the production and creative of Evo's merchandise across all events, domestic and international.
• Translate brand and event strategy into an actual assortment of SKUs, working alongside designers and production partners.
• Source and manage an apparel design contractor, providing creative direction and brief/approval oversight.
• Own vendor relationships and sourcing for both apparel and non-apparel merchandise.
• Manage merchandise production with international partners where they produce and sell on-site; and source and manage local vendors directly where no partner infrastructure exists.
• Recommend pricing based on COGS and vendor quotes; bring recommendations to the Commerce Director for sign-off.
• Execute within an established budget and proactively flag cost or margin issues.
• Own inventory management and allocation across e-commerce and live events.
• Own shipping, logistics, and fulfillment for merchandise across all channels.
• Lead collab logistics: including production, delivery and asset needs for collaborations with other brands, event partners, and artists.
• Partner with marketing and event teams to align merch drops with the Evo content and event calendar.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in merchandise, apparel, or product management, including design direction.
• A strong design background and portfolio demonstrating ownership of a brand's merchandise look and output.
• Proven experience managing vendor and production relationships, including apparel manufacturing.
• Experience pricing products against COGS and vendor quotes, and managing within a set budget.
• Experience managing inventory and allocation across multiple channels (e.g. e-commerce and live events).
• Experience coordinating international production or vendor relationships, or comparable cross-border logistics experience.
• Strong project management skills across concurrent production timelines, launches, and events.
• Clear communication skills and sound judgment managing multiple external partners at once.
• The ability to travel domestically and internationally, including to live events.

Bonus Points

• Passion for fighting games, esports, gaming communities, and the people who make them thrive.
• Experience working directly within the fighting game community or broader gaming/esports industry.
• Existing relationships with apparel manufacturers, production partners, or merch vendors serving the gaming/esports space.
• Experience running brand collaborations with outside partners or artists.

Compensation

The salary for this role is $90,000 - $120,000, based on experience, location and qualifications.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
• 401k plan available for employee contributions
• Flexible work schedule
• Generous PTO and company-observed holidays
• Remote-first culture