Mission
To oversee the development, production, and delivery of Home & Lifestyle products, ensuring
quality, cost efficiency, and on-time availability. The role requires close coordination with suppliers,
designers, QA, logistics, and internal teams to support the successful launch of each product and
the smooth flow of operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Product Development & Design Coordination
- Collaborate with designers to review and validate design sheets (materials, hardware, finishes) while ensuring alignment with technical specifications and target costs.
- Propose alternative solutions to the designer if design choices exceed budget constraints.
- Provide designers with essential product information: dimensions, materials, care instructions, etc.
- Share updated catalogues and material options at the beginning of each season.
- Follow up on development samples and ensure supplier compliance with the design brief and deadlines set by the manager.
- Coordinate sample deliveries for marketing and photo shoot purposes.
- Order Management & Production Follow-up
- Negotiate product pricing, minimum order quantities, and production schedules with suppliers, according to allocated budgets and company cost policies.
- Draft and send purchase orders (POs) validate packing methods, unit counts, labelling, and packing instructions.
- Share SKU allocation plans with the Sales and Distribution Center (DC).
- Monitor production progress and maintain continuous communication with suppliers to ensure on-time delivery.
- Follow up on pre-production samples (PPS), final inspections, and manage credit/debit note processes.
- Track and manage sample costs.
- Quality Control & Compliance
- Coordinate with the QA team to ensure proper inspections and quality reporting.
- Handle quality issues including defects, shortages, reworks, or rejections.
- Manage defect investigations and issue cleaning service requests where necessary.
- Prepare and submit pre-request quotations and initiate memo issuance for internal approvals.
- Oversee defect item processing: initiate chargebacks to vendors (including RNC chargebacks), submit related memos (e.g., DC defect or TWG cases) to the Accounts and DC teams.
- Ensure all products meet regulatory compliance and testing standards (labelling, materials, safety).
- Monitor and enforce compliance with packaging specifications, including carton size and weight requirements.
- Shipment & Logistics Management
- Book and track shipments, monitoring ETD/ETA and confirming final delivery to the DC.
- Coordinate with DC for arrival checks, internal QA status updates, and defective goods handling.
- Manage customs documentation and compliance: HS codes, Incoterms, Form E, FTA, AI, testing reports, registration certificates.
- Provide advance packing details to Sales and DC for operational readiness.
- Process and follow up on logistics-related documents: transfer slips, PO releases for payment.
- Investigate post-arrival issues and execute vendor chargebacks when applicable.
- Supplier Relationship & Network Management
- Develop and maintain a reliable supplier network aligned with the company’s quality, ethical, and delivery standards.
- Regularly evaluate supplier performance to ensure continuous compliance.
- Ensure adherence to contractual terms, pricing structures, and production conditions.
- Collaborate with the sourcing and finance teams to collect all required documentation and support supplier onboarding.
- Assist the line manager in identifying and qualifying new suppliers.
- Product Allocation, Training & Support
- Manage product allocation across collections and ensure stock consistency.
- Coordinate with the design team to prepare product training materials and share all relevant information internally.
- Handle tester/sample order negotiations and related follow-ups.
Experience:
- Minimum of 5 to 7 years of experience in merchandising or product development, ideally within the retail and home decoration industry.
Skills:
- Strong negotiation and supplier management abilities.
- In-depth knowledge of home decoration products (ceramics, glassware, textiles is a plus).
- Experience working with both local and international suppliers.
- Proactive, reactive, well-organized, and solution oriented.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Curious, detail-focused, and autonomous.
- Good command in English (spoken and written).