Sr Merchandising and Design Manager

What's the Short Version?

The Sr Merchandising and Design Manager plays a significant role in the continued growth and success of our investment in Elcatex Apparel Group. They are a highly skilled merchandiser who has proven success in the apparel industry with an advanced background of apparel design. This role takes an analytical approach to recommend design concepts to line plan recommendations and commercial opportunities that are aligned with Elcatex's capabilities and growth strategy. This role works closely with Elcatex's sales and product development teams to empower them to provide world-class product expertise and support across strategic retailers, B2B partners and brands.

What Will You Be Doing?

• Recommend and support targeted product strategies and recommendations through proactive and effective analysis of market trends, POS data, customer feedback, and up-to-date consumer preferences.
• Advise on customer product and costing opportunities based on understanding Elcatex's competencies, working closely with sales and product development to look for efficient fabric platforming opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with merchants, sourcing and product development teams across key accounts, becoming a trusted and reliable partner to SanMar and the investment company while also helping to represent the voice of the customer and their brand across internal teams.
• Guide a strategic vision through strong communication skills to influence a point of view, marketplace & consumer knowledge, and the ability to span multiple seasons will be critical for this role to create impact, fuel healthy growth, and drive results across key accounts.
• Recommend change, champion initiatives, propose solutions, drive urgency and results.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Comply with all policies and standards.

What Are We Looking For?

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience.
• 7-9 years in progressively responsible merchandising and design roles within the apparel industry.
• Proven merchandising expertise that has led to significant growth and results at a major retail apparel brand.
• Advanced knowledge in apparel design including experience working with fabric construction, yarn construction and cost sheets.
• Exceptional ability to translate consumer, sales, trend, and marketplace insights into in-season and long-term breakthrough strategies.
• Proven communication skills and comfort navigating a cross-functional matrix with an emphasis on influencing skills.
• Strong command of common retail metrics such as sell-through, margin, full price realization, weeks of supply, etc.
• Excellent organizational, multi-tasking and prioritization skills.
• Fluent in English, with Spanish language a plus.
• Ability to travel once or twice a quarter, as needed.

What's Our Offer?

Salary Range: You`ll earn between $100,000 - $180,000 annually, depending on experience.

Bonus: You`ll be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus up to 15% of base salary.

Paid Time Off: You`ll accrue paid time off on a bi-weekly basis based on hours worked up to 152 hours per year to start. Employees also receive 8 paid holidays and 1 paid family day off.

Additional Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 401k plan and matches $1 for $1 up to 4% of earnings, matched & vested at every pay cycle
• Life insurance
• Short/long-term disability coverage
• Paid maternity/paternity leave
• Pet insurance

What Should You Expect?

SanMar's Eastpointe office is located in Issaquah, WA in the Seattle metropolitan area. Employees are required to work in our offices Tuesday through Thursday each week and additional days may be added based on business needs. Our standard working hours are 8:00-5:00 PST. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle or feel. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Work environment is moderately quiet. Ability to work on computer for multiple hours with frequent interruptions. Quarterly travel may be required.