The Opportunity

Role: Merchandising Manager / Category Lead

Experience: 2 - 4 Years

Location: Bangalore (Core Operations Hub) / Mumbai

Preferred Background: Tier-1 MBA (IIM, ISB, etc.) with Marketing/Operations/Retail specialization

The Company and Context

We are a rapidly scaling, technology-led House of Brands in the high-growth Fashion and Lifestyle D2C space, backed by one of India's largest and most respected multinational conglomerates. We acquire, incubate, and rapidly scale the next generation of digital-first brands by injecting capital and deep operational/technological expertise.

Our venture has the strategic stability of our conglomerate parent and the growth mandate of a startup, evidenced by recent funding (approx. $50 million / - 437 Cr.) from a leading US-based global enterprise software VC. Our core differentiation lies in leveraging data and AI for intelligent merchandising, supply chain optimization, and personalized customer experiences across our portfolio of digital brands.

The Role

We are seeking a data-driven and commercially astute Merchandising Manager/Category Lead to own the product lifecycle and profitability for one or more categories across our portfolio. This high-impact role acts as the bridge between Design, Supply Chain, and Sales. Your goal is to ensure we have the right product, at the right price, at the right time, minimizing markdowns and maximizing gross margins.

Key Responsibilities

1. Merchandise Planning and Strategy:

- Seasonal Planning: Develop and execute the seasonal and annual merchandise plan (e.g., assortment plan, buy plan, option count) for the assigned category/brand based on historical performance and future trend analysis.

- Inventory Health: Manage inventory levels, turnover, and ageing. Implement strategies for liquidation, markdowns, and end-of-season sales to maintain healthy stock levels and optimize cash flow.

- Forecasting: Collaborate with the planning and production teams to generate highly accurate sales forecasts and production schedules, ensuring maximum in-stock rates on bestsellers.

2. Category Profitability and Pricing:

- P&L Focus: Be the custodian of category-level profitability, driving improvements in gross margin through effective product selection, competitive pricing strategy, and cost negotiation input.

- Pricing: Define the optimal initial price point (IPP) and promotional strategy for every SKU, balancing market competitiveness with target margin requirements.

3. Cross-Functional Collaboration:

- Design & Development: Work closely with the Design and Sourcing teams to ensure that the product pipeline aligns with market gaps, consumer needs, and commercial viability.

- E-commerce & Sales: Partner with the E-commerce and Performance Marketing teams to drive visibility for key items and maximize sell-through rates through effective product grouping and site merchandising.

What You'll Bring (Required Skills and Experience)

- Education: An MBA/PGDM from a Tier-1 institute (IIM, ISB, etc.) with a focus on Operations, Marketing, or Retail Management is highly preferred.

- Experience: 2 to 4 years of experience in Merchandising, Planning, or Category Management within a leading Fashion Retailer, E-commerce company, or high-growth D2C brand.

- Analytical Acumen: Exceptional proficiency in Excel for large-scale data analysis, inventory modeling, and open-to-buy (OTB) planning. Understanding of SQL or BI tools is highly valued.

- Domain Expertise: A deep understanding of fashion/apparel product lifecycle, retail math, and core merchandising KPIs (e.g., Sell-Through Rate, WOS, GMROI).

- Mindset: A strong commercial orientation, balancing aesthetic judgment with data-driven decision-making and negotiation skills.