POSITION SUMMARY

Responsible for customer relationship management and development, overseeing the production team and collaborating with suppliers to deliver custom merchandise. Provide leadership to the production team to ensure that purchase orders are created timely and correctly, pre-production samples are obtained, detailed spreadsheets are maintained and ensuring that accurate and timely shipping and billing is provided to customers.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Manage Customer Relationships

• Ability to listen to customers and envision the custom creations they desire and then implement a production plan to create their merchandise
• Product knowledge to explain cost, production time and options to customers
• Propose alternative styles or materials
• Oversee outside sales events when requested by customers
• Oversee the develop, maintenance and support of customer websites

Manage the Production Team

• Provide leadership and training to the Purchasing and Production Coordinators
• Provide training and oversight to ensure that purchase orders are prepared accurately and submitted timely for approval
• Ensure that the Production team collaborates with other departments to establish customer, vendor and item records
• Establish and maintain SOPs that the Production team utilizes to create and maintain detailed spreadsheets
• Accurate, organized and consistent with SAP to allow efficient transfer of data
• Up to date and in sync with open documentation (sales order, purchase order, delivery ticket and AR invoice)
• Establish and maintain SOPs for the Production team to utilize for customer billing
• Ensure that billing is accurate and delivered timely
• Consistent with established payment terms and include customer’s required tax obligations
• Establish and maintain SOPs to ensure that added costs required for production of merchandise or services provided to the customer are factored into customer pricing

Supplier Relationships

• Manage the development, sourcing and production of custom orders
• Create and maintain a standard pricelist for the company’s core product lines that the Production Department and Sales Team can utilize to efficiently provide competitive pricing to customers
• Ability to envision the custom creations customer’s desire and then implement a production plan to create their merchandise
• Product knowledge to provide cost, production and delivery time options
• Review and approve product specifications prior to submission to suppliers to obtain bids
• Maintain standards that provide clear and concise specifications, instructions and descriptions
• Evaluate and negotiate bids to secure favorable cost
• Require the Production team to obtain Pre-Production samples
• Establish SOPs for the Production team to use to compare design specifications to pre-production sample
• Communicate authorization to suppliers to start production
• Review and approve orders for custom merchandise with overseas and stateside suppliers
• Establish and maintain SOPs to ensure the timely shipping of orders by suppliers
• Produce SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis to evaluate the company's competitive position and to develop strategic planning
• Travel abroad to meet with vendors
• Explore new vendor opportunities

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Required B.S. Degree, preferably in Supply Chain Management, Business Discipline, or Fashion Merchandising

Experience: Minimum of 8 years of International Purchasing/Production and at least 5 years of management experience

Skills and Capabilities:

• Strong negotiating skills
• People Management
• Strong verbal and written communication
• Multi-tasking
• Problem solving skills
• Proficient computer skills required in Microsoft Office, specifically excel

Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position operates primarily in an office setting. The noise level is usually moderately quiet. The work area has high lighting levels, is temperature controlled, and has limited potential for hazards. This position requires sitting at a desk and involves extensive computer work. Vision abilities include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Overtime and/or the necessity to respond to issues during off hours may be required and at off-site locations for special events, networking, disaster response, etc.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the company and the employee and is subject to change as the needs of the company and requirements of the job change.

Equal Opportunity Employer