Role Summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join a leading fashion retail as a Senior Merchandiser to drive our Leather Goods category. You will manage the end-to-end product lifecycle, acting as the critical link between Design, QA, and our global supply chain to balance rigorous quality standards with target margins and seasonal deadlines.
Key Responsibilities
- Partner with Design to transform concepts into commercial products by sourcing leathers, bespoke hardware, and sustainable material alternatives.
- Identify, evaluate, and manage global tanneries and finished goods factories to ensure alignment with ethical and quality standards.
- Lead raw material, tooling, and CMT cost negotiations while analyzing breakdowns and MOQs to achieve target gross margins.
- Manage Work in Progress (WIP) schedules, proactively mitigate supply chain bottlenecks, and ensure on-time global deliveries.
- Oversee the comprehensive sampling process (proto, fit, pre-production) and resolve leather-specific quality issues like skin grading and edge painting.
- Act as the primary liaison between Design, Planning, Logistics, and suppliers while mentoring junior merchandising staff.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Minimum 4 years in global sourcing or merchandising, specifically dedicated to leather goods.
- Deep understanding of leather tanning processes, skin grading, material yields, and specialized leather construction techniques.
- Established relationships with reputable global tanneries, hardware suppliers, and leather goods manufacturers.
