Senior Merchandiser - Furniture

Job Mission:
To drive successful product development and production of high-quality furniture products by serving as the key link between customers and vendors. This role ensures that all sourcing, product development, and production activities are executed with accuracy, efficiency and professionalism. Through strong vendor relationships, effective project management, and clear communication, the Sr Merchandiser ensures timely delivery, cost efficiency, and customer satisfaction while growing each customer's business and understanding their unique brand and needs.
Key Responsibilities:
Sourcing
• Assess vendor capabilities to ensure customers' new product development projects are aligned with both vendor strengths and customer needs
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with existing vendors across Vietnam, while continuously identifying and onboarding new partners to support growth and innovation
• Actively source new vendors through industry networking and research when needed
Project Management & Planning
• Lead end-to-end product development initiatives for key clients, managing all phases from concept to final approved samples, including artwork, swatches, packaging, testing ...
• Oversee development timelines, ensuring sample submissions align with client expectations and seasonal calendars. Understand each related client's product development calendars
• Apply learnings from past projects to improve future projects
• Communicate project details clearly to vendors from initial concept through to final sample, including managing quotes, artwork, swatches, packaging, and more
• Monitor sample progress to ensure customer timelines
• Maintain accurate, detailed records and documentation for each SKU in internal systems
• Use product knowledge, material expertise and experience to drive cost analysis and customer margin optimization through strategic negotiations and material/production recommendations
• Guide product quality, construction, and compliance with client QA standards
• Continuously expand understanding of category standards, materials, and production techniques
• Support in-country customer visits, including preparing samples, coordinating meetings, taking notes, and ensuring timely follow-up
• Lead preparation and execution of in-country client visits, ensuring samples are ready and meetings are well-organized and productive including timely follow-up
• Deep experience in product construction and QA/quality assurance requirements for assigned product categories
• Oversee production-related tasks such as testing, pre-production sample (PPS) reviews, labeling, and required documentation
• Coordinate production-related tasks such as testing, pre-production sample (PPS) reviews, labeling, and required documentation
• Partner and coordinate with internal technical team members for specifics on each project
• Partner with Production Specialist for current updates and challenges with vendor production
• Partner with team and review key performance metrics routinely
Communication
• Serve as the primary liaison between clients and vendors, providing clear and timely updates on product status, milestones, and any risks
• Lead regular client video calls and vendor meetings to ensure alignment and transparency throughout the product lifecycle
• Guide and mentor junior team members to ensure strong project execution, knowledge-sharing, professional development and strong team metrics
• Always review communications for clear expectations, accuracy and tone before sending it out. Do not rush a response that should be thought out before sending.