Position: Senior Manager - Buying, Merchandising & Product Development (Menswear/ Sportswear).

Location: Mumbai.

Experience: 10+Years.

Industry Background: Fashion/Retail/Apparel - Menswear, Lifestyle, and Sportswear.

About the Role

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Manager - Buying, Merchandising & Product Development to lead the full product lifecycle for our menswear lifestyle/ sportswear categories.

This high-impact role demands a blend of creative direction, commercial intelligence, and technical depth.

The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in product creation, merchandising strategy, and buying, with a passion for developing consumer-focused collections that drive business growth and reflect evolving market trends.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development & Lifecycle Management

- Lead the product journey from concept to in-store launch: including sampling, pre-production, and commercialization.

- Translate brand vision and trend insights into innovative, high-performance, and well-fitted menswear collections.

- Own technical packages: including construction specs, material selections, performance attributes, and quality standards.

- Evaluate post-launch product performance and implement improvements based on feedback and analytics.

Buying & Merchandising

- Create and execute seasonal buying strategies aligned with brand vision and sales objectives.

- Curate optimized assortments and manage inventory levels through insights from sales data and market trends.

- Oversee cost negotiations, FOB targets, and margin controls to ensure product profitability.

- Support seasonal go-to-market strategies and retail calendar alignment.

Trend Analysis & Consumer Insights

- Conduct in-depth research, competitive benchmarking, and forecast trends across menswear lifestyle and activewear.

- Work closely with design and planning teams to co-develop commercially viable product lines.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Partner with cross-functional teams including sourcing, planning, engineering, marketing, and visual merchandising.

- Align with quality and compliance teams to meet technical, safety, and regulatory standards.

Supplier & Vendor Management

- Source and manage vendor relationships for raw materials and finished goods production.

- Ensure on-time delivery, product quality, and compliance with ethical sourcing practices.

- Evaluate vendor performance and strengthen supply chain agility.

Project & Team Management

- Drive product timelines to meet development milestones and seasonal calendars.

- Mentor and lead internal team members to ensure consistent execution and foster a culture of innovation.

Qualifications & Skills

Education: Degree from NIFT or equivalent in Fashion/Apparel (preferred).

Experience: 10+ years in buying, merchandising, or product development, ideally within leading lifestyle or sportswear brands.

Technical & Commercial Expertise:

- Deep understanding of garment construction, fabrics, PLM systems.

- Skilled in Adobe Illustrator, Excel, PowerPoint, and data analysis tools.

- Strong commercial sense: financial planning, pricing, cost optimization, and profitability tracking.

Analytical & Interpersonal Skills:

- Strong data interpretation and forecasting capabilities.

- Effective stakeholder management, team leadership, and negotiation skills.