Merchandise Manager – VN

Substitute Arrangement:

Act as deputy for the Strategic Purchasing function, as required.

Merchandise Team Representative Function:

Represents and supports the Strategic Purchasing function in the local organization, ensuring alignment between strategic procurement objectives and operational execution.

Position Profile

A successful Merchandise Manager combines an entrepreneurial mindset with a strong partnership-oriented approach within an international procurement and sourcing environment. The role serves as the functional lead and key counterpart to the Company’s purchasing organization, acting as a vital link between strategic procurement objectives and operational execution.

With a strong focus on supplier communication, process stabilization, organizational development, training, and performance follow-up, the Merchandise Manager drives transparency, accountability, and execution discipline across procurement-related activities. The position plays a critical role in strengthening supplier partnerships, enhancing organizational capabilities, supporting continuous improvement, and ensuring alignment between Company's strategic direction and local implementation.

Through proactive stakeholder management, structured follow-up, and effective coordination, the Merchandise Manager contributes to the development of a high-performing procurement organization while fostering sustainable supplier relationships and operational excellence.

The Merchandise Manager supports the implementation of Company’s procurement strategy in the offshore environment and ensures that operational and sourcing-related activities are aligned, followed up, and further developed in close cooperation with Company.

Key Focus Areas

§  Strengthening and further developing strategic supplier partnerships to enhance collaboration, reliability, and long-term value creation.

§  Driving the development of organizational structures, process discipline, and governance standards to ensure consistent and effective execution.

§  Facilitating the transfer of knowledge, best practices, and procurement expertise into the Company’s organization to build sustainable capabilities.

§  Ensuring proactive follow-up of performance metrics, operational and supplier-related issues, and agreed action plans to drive accountability and continuous improvement.

§  Sourcing activities are relevant, but only to a limited extent and primarily in close consultation with or as directed by Company. Sourcing-related scope accounts for a maximum of approx. 20% of the role.

Key Communication & Working Relationships

Key Internal Interfaces

·       Group Director Procurement

·       Group Procurement Executive

·       Strategic Purchasing Manager – Material Sourcing & Offshore Procurement

·       Senior Merchandiser of the Company

·       Merchandiser of the Company

·       Operative Purchasing

·       Technical Textile Department

·       Development Department

·       Quality Department

·       Supply Chain / Logistics

·       Relevant management stakeholders depending on project and escalation scope

Key External Interfaces          

·       Suppliers, agents, sourcing partners in Asia

·       Service providers conducting quality inspections

·       Third party laboratories conducting mechanical and chemical tests

·       Logistics and freight service providers

·       Compliance, audit, certification, and Due Diligence Partners

·       Relevant Supplier Representatives and Escalation Contacts

Responsibilities

►    Business Environment and Market Context

 The Merchandise Manager operates in an increasingly complex and dynamic global procurement environment characterized by:

 Growing demand for transparency, governance, and visibility across global supply chains.

• Increasing expectations regarding social compliance, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
• Rising complexity of international sourcing networks, supplier structures, and supply chain ecosystems.
• Enhanced focus on risk management, supply chain resilience, and business continuity.
• Accelerating digitalization of sourcing markets, procurement processes, and supplier collaboration.
• The need for diversified and resilient sourcing strategies to support supply security and operational flexibility.
• Increasing quality, traceability, compliance, and documentation requirements across the value chain.

►    Job Purpose

The Merchandise Manager is responsible for managing the end-to-end Company’s process, from HQ relationship management and product development through sourcing, pattern making and final delivery of task or project. The role drives business growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction while leading merchandising teams and development team.

The specific tasks of the Merchandiser are:

►    Functional Leadership and Organizational Development

►    Provide functional leadership and guidance to the Senior Merchandiser and Merchandiser, ensuring alignment with business objectives, priorities, and performance expectations.

►    Support the definition and structuring of roles, responsibilities, priorities, and effective ways of working across the team.

►    Foster a culture of accountability, process discipline, and consistent follow-up to enhance operational effectiveness.

►    Establish and maintain stable, efficient working routines that support reliable execution and continuous improvement.

►    Strengthen cross-functional interfaces, collaboration mechanisms, and escalation pathways to ensure transparency and timely decision-making.

►    Coach and support team members in developing professional procurement, sourcing, and supplier management capabilities.

►    Drive organizational development initiatives that enhance performance, collaboration, and execution excellence.

►    Contribute to the ongoing maturation of the offshore procurement organization by building capabilities, strengthening governance, and embedding best practices.

►    Support the development of a sustainable, scalable operating model that enables long-term growth and continuous improvement within the procurement environment.

►    Training, Coaching, and Knowledge Transfer

►    Deliver training and onboarding programs for the local organization in alignment with Cmopany HQ standards, requirements, and ways of working.

►    Facilitate the effective transfer of process knowledge, best practices, and operational standards from HQ to MSA to ensure consistent execution.

►    Provide structured guidance on sourcing methodologies, supplier management principles, communication standards, and documentation requirements.

►    Actively coach employees in supplier follow-up, issue resolution, stakeholder communication, escalation management, and execution discipline.

►    Support the development of organizational capabilities by strengthening process understanding, accountability, and professional working practices.

►    Ensure that strategic objectives and procurement priorities are consistently translated into effective day-to-day operational execution.

►    Foster a culture of continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement across the organization.

►    Deliver targeted training and knowledge-transfer activities to align teams with strategic priorities, capability development, and successful implementation of Company standards and expectations.

►    Proactive Follow-up and Process Ownership Support

►    Drive proactive follow-up of open actions, decisions, documentation, risks, and escalations across ongoing projects, supplier cases, and operational activities.

►    Assume temporary process ownership where required to stabilize execution, improve structure, and ensure consistent progress.

►    Support the timely closure of open topics by maintaining clear accountability, documentation, and end-to-end traceability.

►    Promote operational discipline, transparency, and consistency across processes while ensuring effective coordination among stakeholders.

►    Identify execution gaps, bottlenecks, and risks, and proactively initiate corrective actions to maintain momentum and alignment.

►    Act as a stabilizing force and trusted counterpart to the organization, providing guidance, structure, and follow-through where needed.

►    Enhance process effectiveness and execution quality without assuming full responsibility for routine day-to-day operational processing.

►    Ensure that responsibilities remain clearly defined and that sustainable process ownership is maintained within the respective functions.

►    Supplier Communication and Entrepreneurial Counterpart Role

►    Act as a proactive and entrepreneurial counterpart to suppliers, laboratories, and other external business partners, fostering constructive and value-driven collaboration.

►    Lead discussions on quality concerns, corrective actions, timelines, technical matters, and execution risks to ensure timely resolution and effective decision-making.

►    Maintain focused, professional, and solution-oriented communication that drives accountability, transparency, and measurable outcomes.

►    Challenge issues proactively and engage stakeholders in identifying practical and sustainable solutions.

►    Strengthen supplier relationships through trust-based collaboration while consistently safeguarding Company’s commercial, operational, and strategic interests.

►    Facilitate clear alignment of expectations, priorities, and responsibilities between suppliers and internal stakeholders.

►    Support continuous improvement by encouraging open dialogue, performance-oriented discussions, and effective follow-up on agreed actions.

►    Support of Operational Order Management and Sourcing Activities

 ►    Support and review operational order management, supplier follow-up activities, and sourcing-related processes within the Company’s environment to ensure effective and consistent execution.

►    Monitor adherence to established procedures and ensure transparency throughout order processing, supplier communication, and sourcing activities.

►    Ensure the completeness, accuracy, and timely maintenance of documentation, records, and reporting requirements.

►    Drive disciplined follow-up on open actions, commitments, and operational milestones to maintain momentum and accountability.

►    Identify gaps, delays, or process deviations and proactively coordinate corrective measures with relevant stakeholders.

►    Intervene in critical cases where alignment, structure, execution quality, or progress is insufficient, ensuring timely resolution and escalation where necessary.

►    Support continuous improvement of operational workflows by promoting process consistency, transparency, and best-practice execution.

►    Sourcing Activities in Alignment with Company

►    Support sourcing initiatives in close coordination with Company and in accordance with established strategic procurement priorities and objectives.

►    Provide market intelligence, supplier feedback, and local sourcing support to facilitate informed decision-making and effective supplier management.

►    Contribute to the development, stabilization, and expansion of supplier relationships in alignment with Company’s sourcing strategy.

►    Assist in supplier evaluations, market assessments, and sourcing projects where local expertise and market presence add value.

►    Ensure that all sourcing-related activities are executed transparently and in alignment with Company’s direction, governance standards, and approval processes.

►    While supporting sourcing activities as needed, the primary focus of the role remains on coordination, process stabilization, supplier management, and operational execution, with sourcing responsibilities accounting for approximately 20% of the overall role.

►    Partnership Strengthening and Interface Management

►    Build and maintain strong, long-term partnerships with suppliers and key external stakeholders to support business objectives and sustainable growth.

►    Foster trust, transparency, and high-quality communication to enhance collaboration, execution reliability, and mutual accountability.

►    Act as an effective interface between Company and the local/Asian supplier network, ensuring clear alignment of expectations, priorities, and requirements.

►    Strengthen supplier engagement and collaboration through proactive communication and relationship management.

►    Support the establishment of clear communication channels, governance structures, and accountability mechanisms across all stakeholders.

►    Facilitate effective coordination between internal teams, suppliers, and external partners to ensure smooth execution of procurement and sourcing activities.

►    Promote a partnership-oriented approach that drives continuous improvement, operational excellence, and long-term value creation.

►    Issue Handling, Escalation, and Action Tracking

►    Monitor and track operational, commercial, technical, and supplier-related issues to ensure timely resolution and business continuity.

►    Drive disciplined follow-up on corrective actions, agreed measures, and key deadlines to ensure effective implementation.

►    Facilitate the timely escalation of unresolved, high-risk, or recurring issues to the appropriate stakeholders and decision-makers.

►    Maintain transparency regarding open topics, responsibilities, and progress status to ensure accountability across all parties.

►    Ensure that action items are systematically documented, monitored, and closed within agreed timelines.

►    Coordinate with internal teams, suppliers, and external partners to resolve issues efficiently and prevent recurrence.

►    Support a structured problem-solving approach by identifying root causes, tracking mitigation measures, and promoting continuous improvement.

►    Process Stabilization and Implementation Support

►    Support the implementation and effective adoption of agreed procurement, sourcing, and operational processes across the organization.

►    Take ownership of critical processes where required to establish stability, consistency, and execution discipline.

►    Identify structural gaps, inefficiencies, and execution weaknesses, and proactively recommend sustainable improvement measures.

►    Drive process standardization and ensure adherence to established procedures, policies, and best practices.

►    Promote the consistent and effective use of procurement tools, documentation standards, and reporting frameworks.

►    Monitor process performance and support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and transparency.

►    Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure process changes are implemented successfully and embedded within daily operations.

►    Coordination with Company and Strategic Alignment

 ►    Work in close alignment with Company on strategic priorities, supplier-related initiatives, process improvements, and sourcing activities.

►    Ensure that all local actions, supplier interactions, and procurement decisions are fully aligned with Company’s strategic procurement objectives and business requirements.

►    Act as a trusted local representative of Company’s procurement organization, translating strategic expectations into effective operational execution.

►    Facilitate strong collaboration and communication between Company and the local organization to ensure transparency, consistency, and alignment.

►    Support the implementation of procurement strategies, process changes, and supplier development initiatives while ensuring practical and sustainable execution.

►    Drive accountability and follow-through on agreed actions, ensuring timely progress and alignment with business goals.

Performance Requirements

►    Candidate Profile & Key Competencies

►    Exemplifies a best-in-class Merchandise Manager profile, combining strong commercial acumen, supplier management expertise, and operational excellence.

►    Demonstrates a deep understanding and practical application of the “Act Global, Think Local” strategy.

►    Possesses a strong understanding of the supplier landscape, market dynamics, and industry-specific developments.

►    Able to translate procurement requirements into clear, actionable initiatives for both suppliers and internal stakeholders.

►    Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to effectively bridge Asian supplier markets and European customer expectations.

►    Strong market knowledge, commercial awareness, and understanding of end-to-end business and procurement processes.

►    Solid understanding of textile-related products, manufacturing processes, and supply chain structures.

►    Proven ability to strengthen supplier partnerships while continuously enhancing internal processes and organizational effectiveness.

►    Proactively identifies challenges, constructively challenges existing practices, and ensures disciplined follow-up to drive sustainable solutions.

►    Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.

►    Collaborative team player with the ambition and capability to assume functional or team leadership responsibilities.

►    Adaptable and resilient, with the flexibility to respond effectively to changing priorities and diverse business requirements.

►    Demonstrates strong professional writing, presentation, and language skills, supported by experience communicating with international suppliers, customers, and business partners.

►    Professional Qualifications & Experience

►    Professional experience within the textile industry, with exposure to sourcing, procurement, or supply chain functions.

►    Experience in technical textiles is highly preferred.

►    Profile closely aligned with the Company Strategic Buyer competency framework and requirements.

►    Strong understanding of sourcing processes, procurement coordination, and supplier relationship management.

►    Ability to proactively engage and communicate with suppliers, testing laboratories, and other external stakeholders on technical and commercial topics.

►    Experience in process monitoring, issue resolution, and cross-functional organizational support.

►    Previous experience working in an international or Western company environment is considered an advantage.

►    Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.

►    Strong English communication skills, including professional business correspondence.

►    Familiarity with ERP systems, procurement platforms, documentation management, and related business tools is a plus.

►    Behavioural Competencies

►    Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong drive for continuous improvement and value creation.

►    Proactive, forward-thinking, and willing to challenge the status quo constructively.

►    Conscientious, vigilant, and highly motivated to develop people, processes, and organizational structures.

►    Strong ambition and potential to grow into a team leadership role.

►    High level of ownership and accountability, with a hands-on approach rather than a reliance on senior management direction.

►    Disciplined, reliable, and committed to delivering results.

►    Solution-oriented, with the ability to identify practical and effective resolutions to challenges.

►    Assertive and confident in decision-making while maintaining a collaborative and cooperative working style.

►    Strong intercultural awareness and the ability to work effectively in diverse, international environments.

►    Willingness to engage directly with suppliers and external business partners to drive performance and build strong relationships.

►    Flexibility and willingness to travel occasionally, including international travel when required.