Category Merchandise Manager (Apparel)

General Position Summary:

The Category Merchandise Manager provides leadership for the Sourcing, Costing, and Product Development functions for the assigned Categories within the Regional Liaison Office. Manages Vendor relationships to deliver the Profitability, On-time Execution, Quality and SMP goals for the assigned Category (ies) and that of Columbia Sportswear Company.

Provide leadership and training to Merchandising team in order to achieve set goals for CSC products shipping to the multiple global markets in which we conduct business.

Advocate as ambassador for the Brands’ visions and category strategies within the region.

Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities:

• Strategic/Source Base: Collaborate with Regional Merchandise Manager to execute seasonal and long-term sourcing strategy for apparel from the Regional Source Base. Develop and maintain the product source base plan for the Liaison Office, based upon the Regional/Brand/Channel needs and aligned with the CSC global source strategy.

• Drive Commercialization Excellence: Lead the delivery of Brand promise from the region by driving product excellence for the assigned categories. Deliver Accuracy, Completeness and Timeliness in Product Development and Commercialization Process for all assigned categories. Facilitate direct development opportunities with key Suppliers and Home Office Teams. Develop, standardize, and continually improve processes related to commercialization.

• Exemplify Brand Ambassadorship and Consumer Focus: act as the brand/category advocate in every interaction, proactively communicating the Category’s needs & reinforcing overall Columbia Sportswear Company’s expectations with vendors and internal partners. Build strong foundations with our partners to ensure beneficial long-term relationships.

• Seasonal/Yearly Vendor Reporting: Working with cross-functional management, ensure accuracy of performance “scorecards” data of each vendor to support Category Sourcing Managers in placing product with the right factories. Work closely with Vendor Base to identify opportunities and constraints – as it relates to achieving CSC and Category targets. Obtain, maintain and circulate Vendor’s seasonal capacity and capability data to internal audiences. Maintain visibility to category level performance metrics across all functions for the regional vendor base and drive continuous improvement in these through collaboration with the x-functional team.

Calendar Timelines & Sales Sample Process: Execute seasonal category calendar as it relates to LO activities. Find efficiencies and drive improvements in calendar and work flow management internally and externally. Ensure adherence to deadlines through effective team and process management. Provide inputs for sales sample capacity reservation. Lead the sales sample buy ready process and enable full clarity of styles for quality sales sample production. Support Production and Quality Assurance teams to ensure 100% on-time and accurate sales sample delivery.

• Seasonal Style Workload Management: Leads the allocation & management workload of merchandising team including style workload and other responsibilities. Ensure the manpower of department is fully utilized and operating as effectively as possible.

• Drive Profitability by continually seeking improvements and efficiencies for the category, through product engineering opportunities. Investigate and recommend product cost savings opportunities, as an input to the Cost Engineering process. Provide clear and concise information to stakeholders on seasonal costing to support decision making. Work across suppliers and product categories/Brands to achieve fair, consistent, and sustainable product costing.

• Product Quality, On-Time Delivery, and Standards of Manufacturing Practices:

Understand Corporate goals on Quality, Delivery and SMP. Take proactive steps throughout the Commercialization process to build quality into the product. Lead category team in completion of Buy Ready and Cut Ready process to enable 100% on-time delivery. Support CR Management’s SMP efforts by contributing relevant information to corrective action plan (CAP).

• Performance Management – Regional Source Base: In collaboration with DMM and cross-functional management team, conduct quarterly/seasonal meetings with suppliers to review performance. Proactively communicate source base issues and opportunities to the LO and HQ staff. Establish & drive corrective action plans where applicable.

• Performance Management – Regional Team: Communicate roles and responsibilities and expectations for category merchandising team. Working with LO DMM and cross-functional management, set clear goals and objectives for staff on a timely basis to align with Columbia Sportswear Company strategic direction. Identify areas for continuous improvement within individual and team performance. Provide ongoing coaching to merchandising staff to achieve these objectives. Develop individual and group training opportunities for merchandising staff. Work with HR and LO DMM on succession planning and create measurable performance evaluations. Manage Non-Performance with Courage.

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with HO Departments and Vendors. Network within the industry to keep abreast of latest developments in the Source base. Accompany Supplier trips to the home office when necessary to stay strategically-aligned with new seasonal developments and strategic opportunities. Participate in cross-functional meetings, such as the ‘Innovation Huddle’, with the objective of solving category needs and establishing long-term process improvement with the vendor. Communicate CSC category expectations to vendors to ensure seamless adoption of new technology and/or innovative processes.

• People development providing the leadership, coaching & mentoring to the team. Identify the appropriate training needed for people accordingly to LO training program plan and people IDP.

Secondary Functions:
Maintain positive open lines of communication with all Columbia Sportswear Company business partners in order to contribute to the smooth flow of information and efficient operation of the organization.

Job Complexity:
Job involves a high degree of complexity or difficulty in performing work situations which frequently vary from the norm. Requires the ability to react to both short term problems and long-term goals. Work is generally reviewed on a project basis over extended periods of time. Errors in judgment can have significant negative impacts on the profitability, quality and timely delivery of Columbia Sportswear Company’s product and may result in decreased sales and/or profits, and/or a negative impact to the Company’s reputation.

Supervisory Responsibility:
Position will have management responsibility for LO Category Merchandising staff. Role is responsible for training, mentoring and managing performance of the Merchandisers. Proven leadership skills are required.

Interpersonal Contacts:
Contacts are normally made with others inside and outside the organization. Internal contacts include other department members and multiple functional areas. External contacts are primarily with suppliers and distribution representatives. Interactions focus on information exchange, problem solving and negotiation. Contacts usually contain confidential/sensitive information necessitating discretion at all times. Information may include financial information, strategic planning information and confidential personnel information. Incumbent usually initiates contacts with 50% being by phone/fax/e-mail and the remainder via face-to-face interaction.

Specific Job Skills:

Requires a well-developed ability to read, write, and speak English, in relation to understanding and communicating highly complex or technical topics.

Mental agility and emotional intelligence required to conduct complex business operations, manage interpersonal interactions of a complex and critical nature, develop and cultivate personal and professional relationships within and outside the company. Ability to work well with individuals of different countries and cultures.
Work and thrive within a fast -paced and decision-critical environment to achieve job requirements with efficiency and effectiveness. Also must be able to trouble shoot and solve problems of an unusual and complex nature and make decisions and operate independently with discretion.

Must be physically able sit for extended periods of time, operate computer hardware/software including a keyboard.

Well-developed understanding of the commercialization process, product sourcing and costing, and negotiation skills and tactics.

Domestic and International travel is required to visit vendors and suppliers throughout the Region.


Minimum Education/Experience
Requirements:
• University degree in Manufacturing, Business, or related field.

• 8 years relevant experience in production, merchandising, development or a manufacturing environment, preferably in the garment industry or related soft goods industry.

• Work experience related to the management of people and the sourcing and costing processes.
• Knowledge of the Apparel Manufacturing and its associated upstream and downstream business processes.
• Requires a well-developed ability to read, write, and speak English, in relation to topics of a highly complex or technical nature.
• Ability to lead in ambiguous situations and able to prioritize, organize, provide focus and direction to staff

Competencies Required:

Integrity and Trust Process & Project Management
Customer focus Business Acumen
Functional Technical Drive for Results
Managing Vision & Purpose Communication skills
Developing Direct reports Time Management
Motivating others Interpersonal Savviness
Negotiation skills Influence sills
Conflict management skills Conceptual thinking
Forward Thinking

- performance bonus
- medical insurance for spouse & kids
- softskills and leadership training, travel opportunities

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