About the Role

Cava Athleisure is looking for a Category Associate to join our Category team. This is a hands-on role for someone who is equal parts analytical and curious, someone who tracks what is happening in fashion as naturally as they track a spreadsheet, and who finds the logic behind an assortment as interesting as the product itself.

You will work closely with the Category Manager on everything from purchase orders and size breakups to trend research and competitor benchmarking. If you are someone who notices what brands are doing differently, follows D2C labels on Instagram out of genuine interest, and can hold your own in a conversation about fabric weights and fits, this role is built for you.

What You'll Do

Planning and Buying Operations

• Maintain and update buying trackers, order sheets, and size breakup files with accuracy and consistency
• Raise and track purchase orders across domestic and international vendors, ensuring timelines are met
• Support the Category Manager in assortment planning across categories and seasons
• Monitor inward schedules and flag risks or delays proactively

Data and Analysis

• Clean, organise, and analyse data across sales, inventory, and buying plans using Excel
• Build and maintain reports on sell-through, stock coverage, and category performance
• Support costing exercises, conversion calculations, and pricing inputs as required

Research and Trend Tracking

• Track competitor brands, domestic and international, for assortment direction, pricing, and newness
• Maintain a structured view of trends across platforms including Instagram, LinkedIn, trend reports, and retail walk-throughs
• Contribute inputs to seasonal planning discussions with relevant market and trend context

Product Knowledge

• Develop a working understanding of fabrics, garment construction, fits, and athleisure-specific terminology
• Liaise with the design and sourcing teams to ensure product details are accurately captured in trackers and briefs

What We're Looking For

• 1-3 years of experience in buying, merchandising, planning, or a related function within fashion or apparel
• Strong Excel skills including data cleaning, pivot tables, vlookups, and the ability to present data clearly
• Solid numerical aptitude with comfort around costing, quantities, conversions, and planning math
• Genuine interest in fashion, D2C brands, and consumer behaviour that shows up in how you follow the market, not just what you say in an interview
• Basic familiarity with fabrics, fits, and garment construction; athleisure or activewear background is a plus
• High attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple trackers and timelines simultaneously
• Curious, proactive, and willing to learn fast in a high-pace environment