Manager | Assistant Manager - Merchandising (Baby Apparel)
Sales / Marketing / Business Development / Merchandising
About the Employer
Job Description
MANAGER / ASSISTANT MANAGER – MERCHANDISING (Baby Apparel)
DSL Lanka (Pvt) Ltd – Southeast Asia's leading Toy Company
DSL LANKA (PVT) LIMITED | BIYAGAMA EPZ
DSL Lanka stands as South East Asia's premier plush and rubber toy manufacturer, proudly boasting a 30-year legacy of crafting toys for some of the world's most iconic brands, including Disney, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, and Charlie Bear. Our commitment to quality extends to our own beloved brands, Tikiri and Bonikka, which we distribute to over fifty countries worldwide.
Job Purpose
The role will lead and oversee the end-to-end merchandising operations for key international baby and kids wear accounts across both CM (Cut & Make) and FOB (Free on Board) execution models. This role drives commercial strategy, order pipeline execution, costing, team management, and buyer relationships while ensuring strict adherence to global babywear quality, safety, and compliance standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end merchandising process for baby apparel accounts from inquiry to shipment.
- Manage both CM (Cut & Make) and FOB (Free on Board) business models.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with buyers, brands, and sourcing offices.
- Handle product development, costing, sampling, order placement, production follow-up, and shipment coordination.
- Work closely with Design, Product Development, Production, Planning, QA, Fabric, and Finance teams.
- Ensure on-time development and delivery in line with buyer requirements.
- Monitor T&A (Time & Action) calendars and proactively resolve delays or production issues.
- Ensure products meet required quality, safety, compliance, and buyer standards, particularly those applicable to baby apparel.
- Manage multiple customer accounts and product categories while maintaining strong OTIF performance.
- Analyze business performance, margins, and order profitability.
- Provide leadership and guidance to the merchandising team and ensure effective workload management.
- Strong understanding of fabric, trims, garment construction, costing, production processes, and export procedures.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
- Experience working with international apparel brands/buyers is highly desirable.
- Experience in babywear / children's apparel and knowledge of relevant product safety requirements will be an advantage.
- Oversee and ensure timely realization of sales collections, outstanding payments and payment terms as per agreed commercial contracts.
Candidate Profile
- Degree or Higher Diploma in Apparel Merchandising, Textile Engineering, Fashion Technology, Business Administration, or a related field.
- 8-12+ years of progressive merchandising experience in garment export manufacturing, with a proven track record leading teams at a senior management level.
- Direct, hands-on experience independently driving both CM and FOB business models.
- Specialized exposure to Babywear / Kids Apparel is strongly preferred, alongside thorough knowledge of safety and regulatory guidelines governing international children's clothing markets.
If you have the experience and passion we are looking for, we would love to hear from you.
Please send in your CV via email, clearly stating the following subject line, "Application - Manager / Assistant Manager – Merchandising," together with the contact details of two non-related referees, to reach us within 14 days of this advertisement.
Email - [email protected]
