Senior Merchandiser (Tgn5560) - Excellent Salary Doe in Manchester

Location: Manchester

Type: Permanent

Industry: Sportswear

Job Ref: TGN5560

We are looking for an experienced and commercially driven Senior Merchandiser to take ownership of supplier relationships, product development, sourcing, pricing, and the end-to-end critical path across international markets.

The Role

• Build, develop, and maintain strong, long-term supplier partnerships across global markets, ensuring suppliers consistently meet expectations around quality, cost, capacity, and delivery.




• Lead supplier negotiations across pricing, payment terms, MOQs, lead times, and commercial agreements to maximise margins while maintaining product quality and competitiveness.




• Take ownership of the end-to-end merchandising process, from initial costing and supplier negotiation through to wholesale pricing, shipping, delivery, and final margin.




• Oversee order placement and accuracy, proactively identifying and resolving production, quality, and supply chain issues to minimise risk and delays.




• Lead regular Critical Path (CP) meetings, ensuring key production milestones are achieved and any risks or delays are escalated and addressed promptly.




• Manage all FOB shipping documentation and import/export requirements, including Bills of Lading (BL), Certificates of Origin (CO), B255, and other relevant compliance documentation.




• Work closely with freight forwarders and logistics partners to coordinate shipments, track deliveries, manage shipping timelines, and mitigate supply chain risks.




• Monitor supplier performance and delivery against agreed timelines, costs, quality standards, and commercial targets.




• Work collaboratively with Design, Sales, Garment Technology, Marketing, and Finance to ensure sourcing, product development, pricing, and import activities are aligned with wider business objectives.




• Analyse costs, supplier performance, lead times, and market opportunities to identify efficiencies, improve margins, and support strategic sourcing decisions.




• Act as a key point of contact between internal teams, suppliers, and logistics partners, ensuring clear communication and accountability throughout the product lifecycle.




• Support the continuous improvement of sourcing and merchandising processes, systems, and supplier strategies.

Skills Required

• 5+ years’ experience in merchandising, product sourcing, buying, or supply chain management, ideally within fashion, apparel, or consumer products.




• Proven experience managing international suppliers and clients across multiple markets.




• Strong commercial understanding, with demonstrable experience in cost negotiation, margin management, and pricing strategy.




• Comprehensive knowledge of FOB shipping, import/export documentation, customs, and compliance, including BL, CO, B255, and related requirements.




• Strong understanding of the fashion/product critical path, production timelines, quality control, and delivery management.




• Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship-management skills, with the confidence to build strong partnerships while challenging suppliers when required.




• Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple products, suppliers, and deadlines simultaneously.




• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues.




• Commercially minded, with strong strategic planning and decision-making abilities.




• Confident working cross-functionally and influencing stakeholders at all levels.




• Ability to work independently, take ownership, and operate effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.