Lead Merchandising Manager

This role is for one of the Weekday's clients

Salary range: Rs 2000000 - Rs 3000000 (ie INR 20-30 LPA)

Min Experience: 8+ years

Location: Kolkata

JobType: full-time

We are looking for an experienced Lead Merchandising Manager to drive the merchandising strategy and execution for our Home category. This leadership role is ideal for a merchandising professional with a strong understanding of product planning, vendor management, category growth, and commercial performance. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in developing product assortments, managing supplier relationships, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver products that align with market trends and business objectives.

The successful candidate will play a key role in strengthening the product portfolio, improving margins, optimizing inventory, and ensuring timely product availability while maintaining the highest standards of quality and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end merchandising function for the Home category, including product assortment planning, pricing, and lifecycle management.
• Develop and execute merchandising strategies that align with business goals, customer preferences, and market opportunities.
• Analyze market trends, consumer behavior, competitor offerings, and sales data to identify growth opportunities and optimize category performance.
• Collaborate with design, sourcing, supply chain, marketing, and sales teams to ensure successful product launches and inventory planning.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with domestic and international suppliers to ensure consistent product quality, cost efficiency, and timely deliveries.
• Drive assortment planning by balancing customer demand, profitability, and inventory efficiency.
• Monitor product performance through key business metrics and recommend improvements based on data-driven insights.
• Lead negotiations with vendors to secure competitive pricing, favorable commercial terms, and reliable supply.
• Ensure compliance with quality standards, product specifications, and sourcing policies.
• Mentor and guide merchandising teams while promoting collaboration and continuous improvement across functions.
• Support business expansion initiatives by identifying new product opportunities and emerging market trends.

Required Skills

Must-Have Skills

• Strong expertise in Merchandising with proven experience managing product categories and driving business growth.
• Deep understanding of assortment planning, pricing strategies, inventory optimization, and product lifecycle management.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data, customer insights, and market trends.
• Strong negotiation, stakeholder management, and vendor relationship management capabilities.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing multiple product initiatives simultaneously.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and decision-making skills.
• Strong commercial acumen with a customer-first mindset.

Good-to-Have Skills

• Experience in Buying, including vendor negotiations, procurement planning, and product selection.
• Exposure to International Sourcing, including supplier development, import processes, and global vendor management.
• Prior experience managing products within the Home Category, including furniture, home décor, kitchenware, home essentials, or related product lines.
• Familiarity with ERP systems, merchandising software, and advanced Excel or business intelligence tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Merchandising, Retail Management, Supply Chain, Marketing, or a related discipline.
• MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification is preferred.
• 8–15 years of progressive experience in merchandising, category management, or retail buying, with leadership responsibilities.
• Proven track record of delivering category growth, improving profitability, and managing supplier relationships.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong commercial judgment and a passion for building successful product categories. You should be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders. A customer-centric mindset, strong leadership capabilities, and the ability to translate market insights into effective merchandising strategies will be critical for success in this role. If you thrive on driving business performance through innovative merchandising practices and strategic category management, we'd love to hear from you.