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.