Merchandising Manager

Job Description

The Merchandising Manager leads the seasonal critical path from concept sign-off to on-time ex-factory, ensuring Oshadi’s regenerative supply chain delivers the highest standards of craftsmanship, sustainability, and commercial performance. Reporting to the Head of Business Development, the role manages a team of merchandisers and coordinates with design, IE, QC, finance, logistics, and over 30 artisan clusters across India.

Key Responsibilities

• Season & Account Planning
• Build the seasonal merchandising calendar, MOQs, and margin targets in line with brand partner forecasts and Oshadi’s capacity plan.
• Present range line-ups, cost sheets, and capacity/risk reports to leadership.
• Team Leadership & Development
• Manage 3-5 merchandisers/interns; set KPIs, conduct monthly performance reviews, coach on negotiation, sustainability compliance, and PLM usage.
• Critical-Path Management
• Chair weekly T&A meetings; hold design, sampling, production, QC, and logistics accountable to milestones.
• Escalate risks early and execute recovery plans to secure OTIF (On Time In Full) ≥ 95 %.
• Vendor & Artisan Strategy
• Evaluate, onboard, and tier vendors/artisan groups based on quality, capacity, ethical audits, and regenerative criteria.
• Lead quarterly vendor reviews and drive continuous improvement projects (SPI optimisation, lead-time reduction, dye-house waste-water KPIs, etc.).
• Cost Engineering & Margin Optimisation
• Own all costings from proto to bulk; benchmark raw-material prices, negotiate CM rates, and implement value-engineering without compromising craft.
• Systems & Reporting
• Define data standards in ERP/PLM (fabric library, BOM, line sheets, shipment trackers).
• Generate weekly dashboards: sampling hit-rate, capacity utilisation, vendor scorecards, and carbon/water impact metrics.
• Sustainability & Compliance
• Ensure every order meets Oshadi’s regenerative cotton, GOTS, and Fair-Trade requirements.
• Coordinate third-party audits and documentation for brand partner claims.
• Budget & Administration
• Manage merchandising OPEX budget, approve invoices, and coordinate LC / advance payment schedules with finance.
• Oversee logistics bookings and export documentation accuracy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Fashion Technology / Apparel Merchandising / Textile Engineering.
• 7-10 years progressive experience in woven & knit apparel; at least 2 years supervising a team.
• Proven success managing premium or luxury brand accounts for export markets.
• Advanced Excel/Google Sheets; working knowledge of PLM/ERP.
• Fluent English—written and spoken; Tamil or Hindi a plus.
• Willingness to travel up to 30 % to rural artisan clusters and partner factories across India.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: ₹60,000.00 - ₹75,000.00 per month

Benefits:

• Cell phone reimbursement
• Health insurance
• Leave encashment
• Paid sick time
• Provident Fund

Experience:

• total work: 10 years (Required)

Work Location: In person

Expected Start Date: 01/08/2025