Columbia Sportswear, Inc.:
Product Merchandising Specialist -Apparel Job in Burlington, VT
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Burlington, VT
Full-time | Merchandising
About the job
The Product Merchandiser for Apparel (mainly womens apparel) will drive the assortment direction and marketplace strategies for the Columbia Apparel business in the Japan wholesale and retail channels. As an industry, category & market expert, the job is to be the go-to person for all product related matters. Primary responsibility will be to liaise with the sales team, Production management team and Marketing, and be the voice of our market. Building good relationships and collaborating with the US headquarters are required.
Essential Functions/Responsibilities:
-Creates and enhances innovative products that increase customer satisfaction
-Supports manufacturing and design activities by developing prototypes for products in development
-Researches outdoor market and materials, sales data to ensure that products are viable and competitive
-Presents the seasonal product line to internal & external stakeholders
-Proactively reviews cost roll-ups for accuracy and analyzes business to achieve margin goals
-Partners with all the key stakeholders at each key milestone and deliver an assortment of product that meets the financial & strategic needs of the Columbia brand. Partners & collaborates with cross-functional leaders
-Identifies issues, clearly communicates the problem internally/externally and offers solutions to course correct in a timely manner
-Receives & logs fit samples. Reviews samples for accuracy with Design
-Sends comments & communicates clearly and purposefully with overseas teams to drive the business forward
Specific Job Skills:
Possess:
Thorough knowledge of product development of the outdoor apparel.
Proven working experience as a product developer or in related field
Work well within a team.
Ability to read, write, and speak English, and collaborate with overseas colleagues or business partners.
Creative and innovative thinking skills.
Problem-solving skills.
Ability to operate independently and follow general guidelines.
Physical ability to use telephone, computer hardware/software including keyboard, type, sit and stand for extended periods of time.
Education:
Requires a bachelors degree or above.
Experience:
3+ years of experience as a product merchandising specialist in the outdoor or fashion industry
Strongly passionate to outdoor activities and fashion
Excel, Word, Outlook required; Illustrator & PDM systems are plus
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including meeting facilitation and presentations
Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and prioritize workloads to remain on calendar.
Detail oriented & accountable to deliverables; must check their own work before handing off to next team member.
Strong Team Player, Positive Disposition & Flexible Attitude.
Self-Starter, Proactive, Inquisitive, Creative Problem Solver
Job Conditions:
Job requires hours that may occasionally exceed 7.5 hours per day and/or 37.5 hours per week during times of peak activity. Evening meetings and/or weekend work occasionally required to collaborate with people in other time zones and to ensure timely project completion. Some job pressure exists in the balancing of several projects with conflicting and sometimes changing deadlines. Exposure to a computer CRT. Some travel, occasionally including weekends required.
Others
One twelfth of the base annual salary (= monthly salary) is paid every month.
Monthly salary includes a deemed overtime allowance of 30 hours per month; overtime allowance in excess of 30 hours per month and late-night allowance are paid separately in increments of one minute.
Defined contribution pension plan
Performance-based financial bonus is paid once a year. Reference value: 5% to 10% of annual salary.
Columbia Sportswear Company and our portfolio of brands, including Columbia, SOREL, Mountain Hardwear and prAna, know a thing or two about adventures. After all, we've been on one since 1938, working to perfect the art of enjoying the outdoors. Behind everything we make is an employee who's found that the greatest adventure starts with joining a company that strives to do the right thing.
This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company.
Essential Functions/Responsibilities:
-Creates and enhances innovative products that increase customer satisfaction
-Supports manufacturing and design activities by developing prototypes for products in development
-Researches outdoor market and materials, sales data to ensure that products are viable and competitive
-Presents the seasonal product line to internal & external stakeholders
-Proactively reviews cost roll-ups for accuracy and analyzes business to achieve margin goals
-Partners with all the key stakeholders at each key milestone and deliver an assortment of product that meets the financial & strategic needs of the Columbia brand. Partners & collaborates with cross-functional leaders
-Identifies issues, clearly communicates the problem internally/externally and offers solutions to course correct in a timely manner
-Receives & logs fit samples. Reviews samples for accuracy with Design
-Sends comments & communicates clearly and purposefully with overseas teams to drive the business forward
Specific Job Skills:
Possess:
Thorough knowledge of product development of the outdoor apparel.
Proven working experience as a product developer or in related field
Work well within a team.
Ability to read, write, and speak English, and collaborate with overseas colleagues or business partners.
Creative and innovative thinking skills.
Problem-solving skills.
Ability to operate independently and follow general guidelines.
Physical ability to use telephone, computer hardware/software including keyboard, type, sit and stand for extended periods of time.
Education:
Requires a bachelors degree or above.
Experience:
3+ years of experience as a product merchandising specialist in the outdoor or fashion industry
Strongly passionate to outdoor activities and fashion
Excel, Word, Outlook required; Illustrator & PDM systems are plus
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including meeting facilitation and presentations
Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and prioritize workloads to remain on calendar.
Detail oriented & accountable to deliverables; must check their own work before handing off to next team member.
Strong Team Player, Positive Disposition & Flexible Attitude.
Self-Starter, Proactive, Inquisitive, Creative Problem Solver
Job Conditions:
Job requires hours that may occasionally exceed 7.5 hours per day and/or 37.5 hours per week during times of peak activity. Evening meetings and/or weekend work occasionally required to collaborate with people in other time zones and to ensure timely project completion. Some job pressure exists in the balancing of several projects with conflicting and sometimes changing deadlines. Exposure to a computer CRT. Some travel, occasionally including weekends required.
Others
One twelfth of the base annual salary (= monthly salary) is paid every month.
Monthly salary includes a deemed overtime allowance of 30 hours per month; overtime allowance in excess of 30 hours per month and late-night allowance are paid separately in increments of one minute.
Defined contribution pension plan
Performance-based financial bonus is paid once a year. Reference value: 5% to 10% of annual salary.
Columbia Sportswear Company and our portfolio of brands, including Columbia, SOREL, Mountain Hardwear and prAna, know a thing or two about adventures. After all, we've been on one since 1938, working to perfect the art of enjoying the outdoors. Behind everything we make is an employee who's found that the greatest adventure starts with joining a company that strives to do the right thing.
This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company.