Job Description for the post of Manager - Merchandising

Job Title: Manager - Merchandising

Location: Shirwal, Satara (Maharashtra)

Department: Merchandising / Sales &Marketing

Reports To: Director - Sales & Marketing.

Position Summary:

The Merchandising Manager will lead the entire merchandising function for the socks manufacturing unit, overseeing product development, sampling, costing, buyer communication, material approvals, and order execution. This role ensures all materials, designs, and approvals are in place before production begins and that every order is delivered on time with complete quality compliance. The position requires strong coordination with production, PPC, quality, sourcing, and design teams while managing multiple domestic and international customer accounts.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Buyer Communication & Account Management

- Act as the primary point of contact for key domestic and export customers.

- Understand buyer requirements, specifications, packaging, testing protocols, and delivery timelines.

- Ensure all buyer queries, clarifications, and feedback are addressed promptly.

- Maintain excellent customer relationships to support repeat business.

2. Product Development & Sampling

- Lead development of new sock designs, styles, materials, and packaging.

- Coordinate closely with design, R&D, knitting, linking, washing, finishing, and QA teams.

- Ensure timely creation and submission of development and confirmation samples.

- Track sample approvals in buyer ERPs and merchandising platforms.

3. Material Approvals & Pre-Production Readiness

- Ensure all yarns, trims, and accessories are sourced, delivered, and approved by buyers well before production start date.

- Maintain a clear and updated timeline for all material approvals and coordinate with suppliers and QA to avoid delays.

- Track all approvals in buyer-specific ERPs, portals, or merchandising systems and escalate any pending issues immediately.

- Maintain a consolidated, always-updated status sheet for materials, approvals, and buyer requirements.

- Ensure complete clarity on all specifications, technical details, and approvals prior to the knitting start date.

4. Order Management & Execution

- Review purchase orders and ensure all critical details are correctly communicated to PPC and production teams.

- Create and maintain Time & Action (T&A) calendars and ensure adherence across departments.

- Follow up with knitting, linking, washing, finishing, packing, and logistics to ensure timely execution.

- Resolve production challenges, quality issues, or bottlenecks in coordination with internal teams.

5. Costing & Commercial Management

- Prepare accurate cost sheets considering yarn composition, knitting time, finishing costs, trims, and packaging.

- Negotiate pricing with buyers while maintaining target margins.

- Monitor cost variances and drive continuous cost optimization.

6. Quality & Compliance Coordination

- Work closely with QA to ensure all buyer quality standards, testing requirements, and compliance norms are met.

- Ensure correct size specs, packaging guidelines, labelling, and carton details are followed.

- Support buyer audits, quality inspections, and shipment approvals.

7. Reporting & MIS

Maintain robust merchandising MIS including:

- Sample tracker

- Approval tracker

- Order status report

- T&A calendar

- Dispatch plan

- Present weekly/monthly updates to management.

Key Skills & Competencies

- Strong knowledge of socks manufacturing processes (knitting, linking, washing, boarding, finishing, packing).

- Excellent communication and buyer-handling skills.

- Strong planning and follow-up capability.

- Expertise in costing, approvals management, and Time& Action (T&A) execution.

- Proficiency in MS Excel, ERP systems, and buyer merchandising portals.

- Leadership and team-management ability.

- Detail-oriented with strong time-management skills.

Qualifications & Experience

- Graduate/PG in Textile Technology, Fashion Technology, or Business Management.

- 8-12 years of merchandising experience in socks, hosiery, or apparel manufacturing.

- Experience handling international buyers and large-volume accounts is preferred.

- Strong understanding of material approvals, pre-production stages, and production workflows.

About the Company:

A reputed and fast-growing Socks Manufacturing Company located at Shirwal (Maharashtra), catering to leading domestic and international brands. The company focuses on innovation, quality, sustainability, and operational excellence, offering a modern manufacturing environment equipped with advanced knitting and finishing technologies.