Associate Manager - Wheel & Tire

Description Enthusiast Auto Holdings (EAH) is a highly successful e-commerce company in the automotive aftermarket parts industry. EAH goes to market via ten enthusiast focused websites (banners) - ECS Tuning, Turner Motorsport, Pelican Parts, Rennline, Texas Speed & Performance, Z1 Motorsports, Z1 Off-Road, RCI Off-Road, Teqsport and EVANNEX. EAH serves automotive enthusiast “Do it Yourself” customers by providing the parts, content, knowledge, and support that bring vehicles to life. EAH also serves a global network of specialty installer shops that serve customers looking for a "Do it For Me" solution. EAH’s leadership team has delivered strong organic growth with market-leading profitability; EAH has also completed multiple acquisitions and plans continued expansion of its served markets via acquisition. EAH is owned and supported by Cortec Group, a premier private equity firm. Cortec has invested millions of dollars to expand EAH’s operations, facilities, technology, and leadership team. Among other investments, EAH recently completed a significant facility expansion at its primary distribution center and is in the process of implementing enterprise-level ERP / WMS / OMS systems. The Opportunity: EAH is seeking an Associate Manager, Wheel & Tire Category for ECS Tuning to play a key role in driving category growth, product strategy, and brand development across our enthusiast-focused portfolio. This role requires a unique blend of automotive product knowledge, analytical capability, strategic thinking, and commercial acumen. Reporting to the VW/Audi Brand Manager, this position is based at EAH’s headquarters in Wadsworth, Ohio. Key Responsibilities Develop and execute both short-term and long-term strategic plans for EAH’s wheel & tire category, including in-house wheel brands and key third-party partnerships. Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, Marketing, Supply Chain & Purchasing (S&P), Sales, and Customer Service teams to achieve category growth objectives and deliver exceptional customer experiences. Build and manage a robust product roadmap, bringing innovative in-house designed and third-party wheel & tire products to market for European automotive enthusiasts, including VW, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, and Porsche platforms. Own category financial performance, including annual, quarterly, and monthly budgeting, with accountability for revenue, gross profit dollars, and margin performance. Develop and implement category pricing strategies that support profitability, competitiveness, and long-term brand positioning. Establish and maintain strong vendor and supplier relationships to support product innovation, supply continuity, and strategic growth initiatives. Manage and optimize the online merchandising and catalog experience on our ecommerce platform, ensuring best-in-class product presentation, fitment accuracy, and customer experience. Partner closely with EAH’s CMO and Marketing team to strengthen the market presence and value proposition of EAH’s in-house wheel brands through strategic merchandising, promotional planning, and brand storytelling. Drive growth strategies for EAH’s in-house wheel brands, focusing on brand differentiation, revenue expansion, and margin improvement across the business. Create a robust roadmap of new products and execute against the roadmap. Bring exciting new in-house designed and third-party products & brands to market for European vehicle (VW/Audi/BMW/Mercedes/Mini/Porsche) enthusiasts. Create and set annual, quarterly, monthly budget for wheels and tire category Deliver on budgeted revenue, GP$, and margin rate for this segment of business. Responsible for pricing strategy and implementation. Maintain key vendor relationships. Managing the online web catalog; creating, maintaining, and executing Requirements Passionate European automotive enthusiast with deep knowledge of wheel fitment, aftermarket trends, and enthusiast vehicle platforms including VW, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, and Porsche. Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Automotive Management, or a related field preferred. 7+ years of progressive experience leading projects and cross-functional initiatives in a fast-paced environment; prior people leadership experience is a plus. Strong understanding of the automotive aftermarket and enthusiast customer mindset, with a customer-first approach to category management and product strategy. Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities, complex product lines, and cross-functional collaboration across a matrixed organization. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively provide and receive constructive feedback. Collaborative, adaptable, and solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to influence change, navigate ambiguity, and adjust priorities when business needs evolve. Analytical and data-driven decision maker with strong problem-solving capabilities and attention to detail. Results-oriented professional with experience managing revenue, margin, and performance metrics while maintaining a continuous improvement mindset. Experience with ecommerce merchandising, paid search, and organic SEO strategies preferred. Demonstrated ability to leverage technology, systems, and process improvements to enhance operational efficiency and business performance. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, along with web-based databases and general business systems. Self-motivated with a strong work ethic and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively across teams. #J-18808-Ljbffr