Head-Merchandising

Job Requirements

Job Title: Category & Merchandising Head – Sarees & Ethnic Wear (DM) 

Location: Bangalore, India 

Reports To: AVP & Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Taneira  

Role Overview 

We are seeking a visionary, deeply analytical, and culturally attuned Category & Merchandising Expert to head our Saree and Ethnic Wear categories. In this role, the person will steer the product and merchandising strategy and drive the business of the Taneira brand through the retail and E-commerce channels across India. 

The role will involve leading a high-performing team of Saree and Ethnic Wear Category Leads, category managers and Merchandisers. From understanding the specific consumer and market needs, developing the final product and launching to our retail channels, the individual will oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of our collections, maximising consumer acquisition, optimizing inventory health, driving product gross margin, and ensuring our product assortment resonates across diverse regional markets. 

Key Responsibilities 

1. Strategic Leadership & Team Management 

Lead & Mentor: Manage and develop a team of Category Managers and Merchandisers, fostering a culture of consumer obsession, serving the front end, innovation and commercial sharpness. 

Category Strategy: Define the short-term and long-term growth strategy for the Saree and Non-Saree portfolios across various clusters and occasions (e.g., Kanjeevaram, Banaras, Tussar, Daily Wear, Ready-to-Wear). Sharply defining the category strategy for different regions to ensure relevance, consumer affinity and growth. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Design, Marketing, Sourcing, and Sales to ensure seamless execution of the category roadmap with the sole objective to grow the business across the country. 

2. Product Management  

Assortment Planning: Oversee the curation of a highly relavant product mix that aligns with regional preferences, seasonal trends and key festivals. 

Innovation: Drive the development of contemporary drapes, fusion textiles, and innovative silhouettes to capture a wide demographic. 

Lifecycle Management: Monitor product performance from launch to markdown, optimizing the "hero" products while swiftly managing slow-moving inventory. 

3. Merchandising & Financial Ownership 

P&L Accountability: Own the revenue, gross margin, and inventory turn targets for categories. 

OTB & Inventory Management: Oversee Open-to-Buy (OTB) planning, stock allocation, and replenishment strategies to minimize stockouts and overstocks. 

Data-Driven Decisions: Analyze sales data, sell-through rates, and consumer behavior to pivot merchandising strategies in real-time. 

4. Supply Chain & Vendor Relations 

Weaver & Vendor Ecosystem: Strengthen relationships with vendor partners, and manufacturers across India’s textile hubs. 

Sourcing Efficiency: Optimize COGS (Cost of Goods Sold) and lead times while maintaining strict quality control and ethical sourcing standards. 

Required Qualifications & Skills 

Minimal Requirements 

Preferred 

Education 

MBA, Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Marketing & Merchandising. 

Premier Institute/ certification in Indian Textiles. 

Experience 

15+ years in fashion retail/e-commerce merchandising, with at least 3+ years leading a team. 

Deep, proven expertise in managing diverse and complex portfolios, preferably within the Saree / Indian Ethnic Wear industry. 

Other Skills 

Advanced Excel skills, experience with retail ERPs, merchandising tools, OTB planning, and data analytics tools. 

Experience with AI-driven trend forecasting or advanced inventory optimization software. 

Soft Skills & Domain Knowledge: 

Textile Expertise: Deep understanding of Indian weaves, crafts, printing techniques (Ajrakh, Bandhani, Kalamkari), and fabric geographies. 

Commercial Acumen: Strong negotiation skills and an intuitive sense of what products will sell at what price points. 

Leadership Style: A leader who can exhibit and transition across multiple leadership styles as required by the business environment. 

Preferred 

Education 

MBA, Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Marketing & Merchandising. 

Premier Institute/ certification in Indian Textiles. 

Experience 

15+ years in fashion retail/e-commerce merchandising, with at least 3+ years leading a team. 

Deep, proven expertise in managing diverse and complex portfolios, preferably within the Saree / Indian Ethnic Wear industry. 

Other Skills 

Advanced Excel skills, experience with retail ERPs, merchandising tools, OTB planning, and data analytics tools. 

Experience with AI-driven trend forecasting or advanced inventory optimization software. 

Soft Skills & Domain Knowledge: 

Textile Expertise: Deep understanding of Indian weaves, crafts, printing techniques (Ajrakh, Bandhani, Kalamkari), and fabric geographies. 

Commercial Acumen: Strong negotiation skills and an intuitive sense of what products will sell at what price points. 

Leadership Style: A leader who can exhibit and transition across multiple leadership styles as required by the business environment.