Product Development & Merchandiser (Apparel)

Location – Delhi, INDIA

ABOUT VEGNONVEG

VegNonVeg represents the coming together of different perspectives or tastes bound together by the love for sneakers. We are India's first multi-brand sneaker store, based in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai. Sneakers have always been more than just shoes to us. They have a culture of their own. Those who know understand how influential sneakers have been in art, music and fashion. VegNonVeg is in search of its own sneaker culture.

Over time, we are committed to developing India's own story of sneaker and street culture. The VegNonVeg store is more than just a retail space. It is a venue for music, a studio for art, a room for debate and a place of cultural influence.

VegNonVeg carries a heavily curated selection of all kinds of sneakers ranging from classic and heritage models to their modern tech-infused counterparts, and limited edition or hard to find collaborations across brands. We provide customers with the unique opportunity to shop multiple brands under one roof. We also have a curated selection of music on vinyl, books, art and apparel for sale.

About the role

As the Product–Merchandising Manager, you will lead end-to-end apparel production and product development operations, ensuring timely execution, quality compliance, and cost-effective delivery. You will oversee the complete production lifecycle—from sample development and approvals to bulk production and final delivery—while maintaining production lead times, monitoring output against planned quantities, and ensuring adherence to defined quality and AQL standards. The role also involves managing production costing, margins, inventory utilisation, and rejection control to ensure commercially viable and operationally efficient outcomes.

Working closely with design, merchandising, sourcing, finance, warehouse, and other internal stakeholders, you will drive seamless coordination across development and production functions. You will be responsible for capacity and manpower planning, optimising atelier and production resources, implementing SOPs and operational systems, and driving continuous process improvement to improve productivity, strengthen operational discipline, and support scalable business growth.

What you'll do

Production & Manufacturing Operations

Lead end-to-end apparel production to ensure timely delivery and adherence to production timelines.

Maintain production lead times and monitor execution against planned TATs.

Ensure products meet defined quality standards and AQL requirements.

Monitor production output against ordered quantities and control rejection and RTV levels.

Track and manage the line sheet, production costing, margins, and cost variances within approved tolerance levels.

Product Development & Sampling

Oversee sample development and ensure fast turnaround without compromising quality.

Drive sample approvals and maintain development quality standards.

Improve sample throughput and optimize development workflows.

Manage available inventory and reduce development waste and idle capacity.

Capacity Planning & Team Management

Plan manpower and production capacity in line with business requirements and growth plans.

Allocate and optimize atelier / production resources for maximum efficiency.

Build, manage, and mentor production and development teams.

Drive team morale and foster a collaborative and accountable work environment.

Process Optimisation & SOP Development

Develop and implement SOPs, operational policies, and process documentation.

Identify bottlenecks and drive continuous process improvement through lean practices and operational efficiencies.

Standardise workflows to improve productivity and reduce operational inefficiencies.

Technology & Systems Management

Ensure effective use and maintenance of operational systems and production tools.

Oversee production tracking, purchase order management, and operational data accuracy.

Support streamlined information management and reporting across the department.

Cross-Functional Coordination

Work closely with design, merchandising, finance, sourcing, warehouse, and other internal stakeholders to ensure smooth execution.

Coordinate invoicing, documentation, and operational requirements with relevant departments.

Ensure alignment between development, production, and commercial objectives.

Compliance & Operational Hygiene

Maintain high standards of organisation, communication, and professional conduct.

Ensure accuracy of operational records, documentation, and reporting.

Drive discipline, reliability, and strong work hygiene within the team and department.

Key Success Metrics

Production TAT adherence

Quality and rejection control (RTV %)

Margin and cost performance

Ordered vs actual production accuracy

Sample throughput and development efficiency

Capacity utilisation and inventory control

SOP implementation and process improvement

Cross-functional collaboration and operational compliance

Who you are

Strong strategic and analytical ability.

Excellent verbal and written ability, Adept at presenting information and storytelling. 

Driven for results with strong financial acumen. 

Ability to align with, collaborate and influence cross functional partners and peers. 

Ability to assess relatively complex situations and analyze data to make judgments and recommend solutions.

Requirements:

Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in merchandising and product development, preferably within the apparel industry. 

Proficiency in using relevant software and tools for forecasting, inventory management, and design development. 

Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Strong understanding of product lifecycle management, supply chain logistics, and inventory control. 

Proven leadership skills with the ability to manage and motivate a team.

Innovative thinking and a proactive approach to problem solving.

Should be able to illustrate in illustrator and be able to produce clean vector files. 

Must have some experience in collaterals as well as packaging design.

Attention to detail and a keen eye for quality. 

Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines. 

Reports to: COO and Co-founder