Assistant Vendor Manager (Garments/ Apparel Industry)

Landmark Group (Styli) is hiring a competent and skilled Assistant Vendor Manager.

Position Objective: The role is responsible for supporting the buying team and vendors in Fashion Apparel category. The role holder will work independently in negotiating cost, developing samples, R&D and most importantly in timely execution of orders. The person responsible needs to be a product / category expert, who can also support the team in product development through creation of fabric and trim libraries that are in line with current trend. A good understanding of patterns, fabrics and drapes is a must.

Key Responsibilities:

Vendor management and development

• Position holder will be required to monitor the vendor performance in terms of cost, innovation, milestone management to help reduce TAT.
• New vendor scoping and on-boarding, in keeping with business and category challenges.
• Understanding of fabric trends, costs and garment costing. Nuanced understanding of cost breakdown.
• Negotiating best cost and deliveries.
• Timely sharing of tech packs, art files, samples & swatches with suppliers for sample development.
• Communicating with vendors and hand holding them to ensure samples fit and drape well and are aesthetically appealing and production friendly.
• Communication with vendors on order status and follow up for outstanding Fit, Pre-production and top of production samples.
• Shipment follow-up with vendors & export team
• Manage approvals on product, lab dips, handloom strikes off and styling.
• Fits & test report follow up with Quality team
• Understanding of sales/trade reports & preparing for capacity and fabric booking.
• Any other duties that maybe assigned by manager/department head from time to time for smooth running of the department

Educational Qualification:

• Graduation / Postgraduation in Textile or Fashion

Experience Required:

• 8-10 years in fashion retail, leading export house or buying agency, with 4-5 years in apparel Category specifically.

Skills & Capabilities:

Must Have:

• Strong negotiation & communication skills
• Attention to detail & strong process orientation
• Good research and analytical skills with a keen eye for product
• Good ability to collaborate and communicate clearly with a set of multiple stakeholders
• Good MS Office skills (especially excel, word and PowerPoint) & PLM system knowledge (Preferred)
• Comfortable working in a fast paced and ambiguous environment
• Continuous improvement mindset

Desirable: Comfortable managing large number of options for different categories, relationship management with different levels in an organisation, complex decision making and problem solving