About the RoleWe are seeking a Director to own the inventory portfolio behind Fanatics Collect and its Instant Rips business. Instant Rips only works if the right cards are in the right packs at the right cost, and if the balance sheet that supports them is managed with discipline. This leader decides what and when we buy, what we hold, and when we sell and is accountable for the downside risk those decisions create.
This is a true ownership role. You will make capital allocation calls on a live, fast-moving market, set the pricing and margin framework across the portfolio, and manage a team of portfolio managers who execute day to day. Managing downside risk on balance sheet exposure is the crux of the job. You will work closely with Instant Rips product, Finance, Commercial,
Marketplace, and our B2B partners, and you will be highly visible to senior leadership.
Responsibilities- Own portfolio strategy and P&L, setting and delivering against ambitious revenue, retention, and margin targets.
- Own risk management for balance sheet exposure created by buying and sourcing decisions, including position sizing, concentration limits, aging inventory, price volatility, and liquidity.
- Define and maintain the risk framework: exposure limits, stop-loss and markdown policies, reporting cadence, and escalation paths.
- Own Instant Rip pack design and economics in partnership with Commercial leads and Finance, managing EV, buyback rates, sourcing, and margin so that the collector experience and the business model reinforce each other.
- Build and run a live ops engine: pack launches, limited drops, seasonal and sport-calendar events, collaborations, and tentpole moments, with a clear calendar and a measurable playbook.
- Define and execute the sourcing product roadmap in partnership with Product, Design, and Engineering, ensuring improved liquidity options for collectors
- Build and launch an order book of demand and supply for B2B partners, matching inventory to partner needs and sourcing against open demand.
- Partner on user cohorting and lifecycle strategy, from first rip to VIP, using data to understand what drives repeat purchase, card retention, and lifetime value.
- Run a rigorous experimentation program across pricing, pack mechanics, merchandising, onboarding, and CRM.
- Partner with Legal, Policy, and Compliance to ensure Instant Rips is built on transparent mechanics and a collector-first foundation, and operates responsibly in an evolving regulatory landscape.
- Work with Partnerships, Marketing, and Content to bring licensors, athletes, breakers, and creators into Instant Rips moments.
- Build and maintain relationships with distributors, wholesalers, breakers, consignors, and large sellers to secure competitive pricing and supply.
- Build, coach, and develop a high-performing team, setting clear expectations and a culture of ownership and speed.
- Report on performance to senior leadership with clear, number-led insight into what is working, what is not, and what happens next.
Qualifications- 10+ years of experience in trading, portfolio management, inventory or merchandise buying, category management, or sourcing, including 3+ years leading teams.
- Proven track record owning buying decisions and managing balance sheet or inventory risk, with accountability for margin and write-down outcomes.
- Strong understanding of the trading card market, including key players, product trends, grading, and price dynamics. Experience in collectibles, alternative assets, or other illiquid, price-volatile markets is a strong plus.
- Demonstrated ability to build and apply risk frameworks, including exposure limits, scenario analysis, and pricing models.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, including forecasting, unit economics, and working capital management.
- Experience negotiating with suppliers, sellers, and large-scale counterparties, and managing B2B relationships or order books.
- Analytical mindset, with fluency in Excel and/or BI tools, and comfort working directly with data.
- Sound judgment and decisiveness under uncertainty, with the ability to act quickly on incomplete information.
- Exceptional communication and cross-functional leadership skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
- Genuine passion for sports, trading cards, or collectibles.
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field. MBA or equivalent preferred.
The salary range represents base pay only and does not include short-term or long-term incentive compensation. This salary range is specific to Los Angeles and may not be applicable to other locations. When determining base pay, as part of a final compensation package, we consider several factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and training. For information about our benefits, please visit https://benefitsatfanatics.com/
Los Angeles Salary Range
$173,650-$216,200 USD
The salary range represents base pay only and does not include short-term or long-term incentive compensation. This salary range is specific to New York City and may not be applicable to other locations. When determining base pay, as part of a final compensation package, we consider several factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and training. For information about our benefits, please visit https://benefitsatfanatics.com/
NYC Salary Range
$188,750-$235,000 USD
