Merchandise Manager

Job Description: Merchandising Manager (Fashion / Apparel / D2C) Location: Bengaluru (On-Site) Experience: 6–10 years Industry: Fashion / Apparel / Lifestyle / D2C Employment Type: Full-timeRole Objective The Merchandising Manager will be responsible for end-to-end merchandising execution, ensuring accurate production planning, cost control, raw material readiness, and seamless coordination between design, sourcing, vendors, and production. The role is critical in delivering production-ready styles on time, within cost, and without last-minute surprises, while maintaining strong process discipline and predictable outcomes.Key Responsibilities (As per KRAs)1. Production Planning & Control (PPC) and Style Readiness

- Own PPC planning and execution for all assigned styles. - Ensure styles are fully approved for bulk as per production plans. - Drive execution strictly in line with approved production timelines. - Prevent bulk delays caused by incomplete planning, approvals, or PPC inputs. - Maintain complete visibility of style readiness at every stage.

2. Costing Accuracy & Commercial Negotiation

- Ensure accurate and final costing is completed before bulk commitments. - Maintain costs within approved targets through strong commercial control. - Lead negotiations with vendors in alignment with brand margin expectations. - Flag and escalate cost risks early to avoid margin impact.

3. Sourcing Coordination & Vendor Alignment

- Act as the key coordination link between design, sourcing, vendors, and production. - Ensure complete and accurate tech packs, BOMs, and costing packs are shared on time. - Resolve vendor queries within defined timelines. - Eliminate production delays caused by misalignment between merchandising and sourcing.

4. Raw Material (RM) Planning & Availability

- Plan and track raw material availability in line with the production plan. - Ensure all RM approvals (fabric, trims, accessories) are completed within timelines. - Prevent production holds due to RM non-availability. - Coordinate closely with sourcing and vendors to manage RM lead times.

5. OTIF (On-Time In-Full) Delivery Support

- Drive and support OTIF delivery for all assigned styles. - Monitor production progress and identify delivery risks early. - Escalate potential delays at least 7 days in advance to enable corrective action. - Avoid last-week or last-minute shipment disruptions.

6. Reporting, MIS & Process Discipline

- Maintain accurate and timely merchandising MIS. - Ensure all trackers related to styles, PPC, costing, RM, and OTIF are updated on time. - Provide clear visibility on status, risks, and dependencies to stakeholders. - Ensure zero surprise escalations impacting production, cost, or delivery.

Key Skills & Competencies

- Strong knowledge of fashion merchandising, production planning, and vendor management. - Hands-on experience in costing, negotiations, and margin protection. - Excellent coordination and follow-up skills across multiple stakeholders. - Strong planning, risk anticipation, and escalation mindset. - Ability to manage multiple styles, vendors, and timelines simultaneously. - Proficiency in Excel / Google Sheets and merchandising trackers.

Qualifications

- Degree or Diploma in Fashion / Apparel / Textile / Merchandising. - 6–10 years of experience in production merchandising / apparel merchandising. - Experience in D2C or fast-paced fashion environments preferred.

Role Expectations

- This is a high-ownership role with clear accountability. - Vendor delays or late inputs are not acceptable excuses without early escalation. - The role demands predictability, discipline, and proactive execution, not reactive firefighting.

Why Join

- Direct ownership of the product execution lifecycle. - High visibility and impact on business outcomes. - Opportunity to work in a growing fashion/D2C environment. - Close collaboration with leadership, sourcing, and production teams.