Head - Merchandising - Sportswear/eCommerce - IIM/ISB/MDI/FMS

About the Opportunity:

A well-funded venture in the consumer fashion/e-commerce space is setting up its India operations in collaboration with a leading global footwear & apparel brand. We are looking for a Head of Merchandising to build the merchandising function from the ground up and drive the 0-to-1 journey in India.

Key Responsibilities:

- Define and execute merchandising strategy for e-commerce channels (annual/seasonal/event-based).

- Build the right product assortment and manage end-to-end lifecycle including pricing, markdowns, and replenishment.

- Partner with marketplaces and internal teams to ensure visibility, sell-through, and conversion.

- Work closely with design, sourcing, finance, and growth teams to optimize inventory planning and margins.

- Establish and nurture vendor/brand relationships; negotiate terms and ensure revenue/margin targets are met.

- Lead and mentor a small, high-performing team, scaling headcount as business grows.

- Track KPIs such as ASPs, sell-through, returns, discounts, and competition benchmarks; make timely interventions on reorders, markdowns, and exits.

What We're Looking For:

- 10-15 years of experience in fashion e-commerce merchandising (sportswear/footwear preferred).

- Proven expertise in assortment planning, inventory management, and marketplace operations.

- Experience in scaling a category or business unit from scratch; strong commercial acumen with prior P&L exposure.

- Track record of managing multiple stakeholders (internal & external) and driving outcomes in a fast-paced environment.

- Strong leadership skills with experience in building and mentoring teams.

- Graduates/Postgraduates from NIFT / premier fashion institutes / Tier-1 B-schools preferred.

Whats on Offer:

- Drive the 0-to-1 journey for a global consumer brand in India.

- High ownership and autonomy to shape strategy and execution.

- Entrepreneurial, fast-paced environment backed by a well-capitalized setup.