Category Merchandiser

We are seeking a Sourcing & Category Merchandiser based in Delhi/NCR to manage the end-to-end sourcing of outsourced (OS) Flip-Flops and open footwear categories. In this role, you will bridge Product Management (PMT), Sales, and external manufacturing vendors across Delhi, Haryana, and neighboring clusters. You will be responsible for translating portfolio design and price-point mandates into footwear articles, evaluating and onboarding manufacturing vendors, conducting lab / visual quality checks, negotiating margins, contracting purchase volumes, and overseeing seamless dispatch/lifting into Walkaroos regional depots.

1. Portfolio Requirement Alignment & Article Sourcing

• Analyze portfolio requirements laid out by the Product Management Team (PMT) for the Flip-Flops category across Injected EVA, Fabrication (EVA Sheet, Hot-Cold EVA, PVC)
• Scout and identify viable footwear articles matching design aesthetics and target price points from existing vendors or by onboarding new vendor across Delhi/NCR clusters.
• Coordinate sample development, color combinations to fulfill designated portfolio white spaces.

2. Costing, Margin Negotiation & Product Show Presentation

• Conduct bottom-up cost estimations (raw material, compound, processing, machine cost, packaging, and overheads).
• Negotiate purchase prices with vendors to meet Walkaroos targeted gross margin benchmarks within assigned retail price bands.
• Propose MRP and present finalized articles at Product Shows with Sales and PMT stakeholders for commercial review, selection, and sign-off.

3. Demand Planning, Purchase Contracting & Vendor Allocation

• Collect orders from the PMT/Sales teams following successful product range finalization.
• Based in selection of designs, ensure that Purchase contracts are issued to qualified vendors aligning capacity and ability to deliver within the defined lead times.
• Execute legally binding Purchase Agreement are in place with product specifications, delivery schedules, and penalty clauses with the identified vendors

4. Quality Assurance, Lab Testing & Inspection Governance

• Enforce mandatory pre-production lab testing: Ensure sample pairs undergo standard laboratory testing (tensile, abrasion, tear, compression set, flex-crack, strap pull-strength, hardness and other chemical tests for phthalates etc) to confirm technical compliance prior to bulk clearance.
• Lead a dedicated team of on-site Quality team (QIs) executing in-process and pre-shipment inspections across vendor factories.
• Conduct final visual and AQL inspections at vendor facilities to verify packaging, barcode labeling, carton marking, and finish quality.
• Enforce Quality SOPs are deployed with the identified vendors and ensure that the second or rejects are disposed of from the vendor premises as envisaged in the contract

5. Order Fulfillment, Logistics & Lifting Coordination

• Track weekly production progress against approved purchase contracts to preempt any shortage at the demand points as measured to CBR (continuous black/red or article below the norms defined)
• Coordinate purchase order (PO) generation and arrange timely lifting and dispatch of cleared finished goods to Walkaroos nearby storage depot/warehouse in Delhi/Haryana.
• Monitor inventory intake reconciliations, vendor invoices, and prompt closure of commercial documentation.

Key Result Area (KRA)

Key Performance Indicator (KPI)

Target / Measurement Metric

Portfolio Fulfillment

Timely identification and range rollout of articles matching PMT design, category, and price requirements.

>85% fulfillment of OS Portfolio for Flipz category

Sales Achievement

Achieve targeted top-line sales revenue from outsourced (OS) products under assigned footwear categories.

% Achievement against Annual/Quarterly Sales Plan

Commercial Margin

Deliver targeted gross and contribution margin percentages on all outsourced articles.

Target Margin % maintenance across articles

OTIF Supply & Lifting

Ensure timely production, visual clearance, and lifting to the Walkaroo Delhi/Haryana depot.

CBR for the OS line measure at depots

Quality & Compliance

Pre-shipment lab pass rate; minimize market returns, vendor-end rejections, and transit defects.

• Education: Bachelors degree in Engineering /Footwear Technology (FDDI), Fashion Merchandising (NIFT), or Business Administration.
• Experience: 2-3 years of hands-on sourcing and merchandising experience in footwear/apparel.
• Technical Expertise: understanding of footwear manufacturing processes and quality testing for footwear
• Vendor Network: Established vendor relationships and active network of footwear/apparel manufacturers in INCR.
• Costing & Commercial Skills: Strong analytical ability in product cost breakdown (material consumption, processing charges, margins, GST, and landed logistics).
• Team Leadership & Quality Orientation: Demonstrated ability to guide field quality team,, interpret lab test certificates, and enforce AQL standards.
• Tools & Systems: Proficiency in advanced MS Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, cost sheets).