Merchandiser - Professional

Job Summary

We are seeking a proactive, detail-oriented, and commercially focused Merchandiser - New Product Development to support the end-to-end development and commercialization of new products through outsourced manufacturing partners. The role will be responsible for coordinating with vendors, suppliers, and internal teams to ensure timely product development, accurate costing, successful sampling, and production readiness while achieving the required quality, cost, delivery, and margin objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate end-to-end new product development activities with outsourced vendors and manufacturing partners.
• Manage product inquiries, development briefs, costing, sampling, approvals, and development timelines.
• Work closely with Design, Sourcing, Quality, Production, and Commercial teams to ensure smooth and timely product launches.
• Follow up with vendors on sample development, materials, components, tooling, capacity, and production feasibility.
• Prepare and analyse product costing and negotiate with suppliers to achieve target costs and margins.
• Monitor development schedules and ensure on-time sample submission and approval.
• Review product specifications, technical requirements, quality standards, and customer expectations with vendors.
• Track sample approvals, modifications, comments, and development milestones throughout the product lifecycle.
• Coordinate with vendors to resolve development-related issues and ensure timely corrective actions.
• Support supplier evaluation, development, and onboarding, and identify potential new vendors for product development.
• Evaluate vendor capability, capacity, quality, cost competitiveness, and production feasibility for new products.
• Ensure products are developed in line with company quality standards, compliance requirements, and customer specifications.
• Maintain accurate development trackers, costing sheets, sample status reports, and other MIS reports.
• Provide regular updates to management on development progress, delays, risks, costs, and launch readiness.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing development lead time, improving product quality, and optimizing costs.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor s degree, Fashion, Engineering, master s in business administration or a related field.
• 1-3 years of experience in Merchandising, New Product Development, Sourcing, Product Development, or Vendor Management.
• Good understanding of product costing, sampling, sourcing, materials, production processes, and vendor coordination.
• Proficiency in MS Excel, PowerPoint, and ERP systems.
• Experience in footwear, apparel, consumer products, or a similar manufacturing environment will be an added advantage.

Key Skills

• New Product Development & Merchandising
• Vendor Management & Negotiation
• Product Costing & Commercial Analysis
• Sampling & Development Coordination
• Supplier Development
• Strong Communication & Stakeholder Management
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills
• Planning, Time Management & Multitasking
• Attention to Detail & Quality Orientation
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, target-driven environment.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• On-Time Sample Development & Submission
• New Product Development & Launch Success Rate
• Development Cycle Time Reduction
• Cost Optimization & Target Margin Achievement
• Vendor Responsiveness & Performance
• Quality Compliance & Reduction in Development Issues
• On-Time Production Readiness
• New Vendor Development & Supplier Capability Improvement
• Accuracy and Timeliness of Development Reports and MIS

Role Objective

To ensure faster, cost-effective, quality-driven, and commercially successful new product development by effectively coordinating between outsourced vendors and internal stakeholders from initial concept through sample approval and production readiness.

Disclaimer: This job posting has been aggregated from external source. Role details, content, and availability are subject to change. Applicants are advised to confirm the latest information directly on the company website before applying.