Production Merchandiser – Apparel & Footwear

Build and manage Indian manufacturing vendors for sports shoes & sports apparel and ensure consistent quality, costing and timely production. Key Responsibilities 1️. Vendor Development (MOST IMPORTANT) • Identify and onboard factories (Tirupur / Ludhiana / Agra / Delhi / Bangalore) • Audit factory capability (machinery, capacity, finishing level) • Develop long-term partnerships instead of trading purchases • Improve factory processes for sports performance products 2️. Product Development • Work with design team to convert tech packs into samples • Develop size sets & fit corrections • Material selection (mesh, EVA, rubber outsole, polyester blends etc.) • Approve final production sample 3️. Costing & Negotiation • Negotiate CM cost, material cost & tooling cost • Maintain brand target margins • Suggest alternate materials to optimize cost without affecting performance 4️. Production Merchandising • Manage T&A calendar (sampling → pre-production → bulk → dispatch) • Track order execution • Coordinate packaging, labeling, barcode, tagging 5️. Quality Control • Set QC standards for stitching, bonding, sole pasting, shrinkage, colour fastness • Conduct inline & final inspections • Handle rejection & replacement with vendors 6️. Planning & Inventory • Align production with sales forecast • Prevent stockouts & dead stock • Coordinate with warehouse & retail team Candidate Profile Must Have: • 3–10 years in apparel OR footwear production merchandising • Worked with factories directly (not showroom buying) • Knowledge of fabrics & shoe construction • Strong negotiation ability Preferred: • Experience in sportswear / athleisure / export house / Decathlon vendor • Experience in Tirupur / Agra / Noida / Ludhiana ecosystem Job Type: Full-time Pay: ₹25,000.00 - ₹30,000.00 per month Benefits: • Health insurance • Paid sick time Work Location: In person