Job Opening at Ethical Apparel Africa (EAA)

Job Opening at Ethical Apparel Africa (EAA)

POSITION: Senior Merchandiser

Company Description:

Ethical Apparel Africa (EAA) is a leader in the West African apparel industry, providing multinational companies with access to ethical, cost-effective, and high-quality manufacturing. We are an apparel firm that works across both our own facilities and four partner companies, exporting an average of $5 million every year. By 2030, we hope to have directly created 10,000 jobs, with more than 70% of them going to women, and to have sourced or manufactured $100 million in yearly exports.

Our dedication to ethical processes extends beyond high-end items, demonstrating that large-scale manufacturing can also respect these ideals. Our seasoned team, based in Ghana, specializes in product development, quality assurance, and other areas while ensuring a good social effect through a worker wellbeing-focused strategy.

Moreover, Our garment manufacturing company specializes in both heavy and lightweight garments such as fleece, sweats, nightwear, underwear, shirts, school wear, dance wear, and even pet supplies. We work mostly with large-scale brands in the United States and have stringent quality and compliance standards.

At EAA, we are not only operating factories; we are transforming an industry that began in West Africa. We’re working with governments and development agencies to create an ecosystem conducive to industrial growth, setting a new worldwide standard for ethical manufacturing.

Position Overview

Join our dynamic team in Ghana, West Africa, as Senior Merchandiser in the growing garment manufacturing industry. This is your opportunity to have a real effect and drive industry development on an exciting new frontier. Reporting directly to the Merchandising Manager, you will work closely with our great EAA teams in Ghana. As the Senior Merchandiser, you will collaborate directly with the Technical and Sourcing departments,

Responsibilities

and your responsibilities will involve product development and account management while embracing innovation and new technologies. More precisely, they will be responsible for the following:

Sample Development

• Work with EAA Partner factories to understand their staff, existing machinery, prior output, and the best match for new goods.
• Once new clients and orders are found, coordinate with the Product Development
• Manager and Technical Managers to finish costing and sampling to pursue these prospects.
• Complete costing tools precisely and rapidly, with the goal of returning costings to clients within three days of enquiry.
• Create a risk assessment document for each new product in collaboration with the technical team and distribute it to the rest of the team to solve any difficulties.
• Follow sample TNAs and accept full responsibility for supplying samples to customers on schedule.
• Work closely with the Raw Materials (RM) Sourcing Manager to ensure that sampling materials reach the manufacturers on time.
• To assist manufacturers in completing samples on time, provide them with a comprehensive package that includes tech packs, RM, and any required client documentation.
• Take control and ensure timely submissions to the customer to save time and money.
• Share progress, identify concerns with sample creation, and contribute fresh ideas to improve the style or manufacturing feasibility.
• Make proactive plans for the upcoming season’s sampling and manufacturing orders.
• Help the Technical team prioritize and produce samples efficiently.

Critical Path and Order Management

• Lead Critical Path meetings and help the team fulfill weekly accounts deadlines.
• Proactively plan for and fully own the Critical Path, warning and escalating when deadlines appear unlikely and investigating the core cause of delays.
• Work closely with the RM Sourcing Manager to ensure that RM approvals are completed with clients and that RM orders are placed based on TNA dates. Ensure that RM arrives at the facility on time for production.
• Follow up on fabric and clothing testing to assure product safety for end users.
• Ensure that pre-production meetings with the manufacturing and technical teams take place at the scheduled times.
• Work closely with the technical team to stay up to speed on production status and any pertinent updates to provide with the client.
• Ensure that the CP is updated weekly and provided with both the client and the factory for all active orders.
• Work with Finance to keep the brand profit and loss statement for all accounts up to date.
• Proactively update and monitor the Brand P&L to maximize profit performance across all accounts.
• Work with the logistics team to ensure the smooth flow and cost of raw materials in and finished goods out in accordance with the critical route and P&L.

Relationship, Communication, and Support

• Visit and engage with manufacturing partners on a regular basis to discuss product development, production, and expansion goals. Encourage good working ties with plant management.
• Strengthen coordination throughout EAA departments, particularly with the Technical team, from product development to final inspection.
• Help factories build great relationships with new clients by communicating in a timely, accurate, and strategic manner. Help factories understand their business priorities and how we can adapt and evolve to provide exceptional customer service.
• Conduct specialized training based on the needs of the Partner Factory to provide factory executives and merchandising teams with the necessary strategy and resources.

Qualifications and Attributes

• Fluent in English.
• Proven track record in equivalent positions in the industry for 5-8 years, including familiarity with ERP systems.
• Strong understanding of the apparel industry, critical routes, sourcing, and product development, particularly for heavy and light-weight clothing.
• Excellent computer skills, particularly in Excel and report writing.
• Understanding the logistical processes
• Preferred experience working in a developing country/region.
• Expertise in data analysis, negotiation, and cross-cultural communication.
• Strong critical thinking abilities, combined with a tireless quest of growth and learning.
• Capable of working independently on self-directed tasks, while demonstrating an entrepreneurial and solution-oriented approach and motivation.
• Proactiveness, self-awareness, resilience, flexibility, persistence, resourcefulness, and the ability to flourish under pressure and achieve deadlines have all been demonstrated.

Benefits

• Full-time job contract.
• Salary amount depends on the candidate’s experience and profile.
• Annual flight and rental allowance
• Health and repatriation insurance in Africa and your home nation, if applicable.
• 25 days of annual leave, in addition to Ghana. National holidays, 30-day sick leave
• Opportunity to join a critical department of an award-winning, vibrant, and mission-driven organization that values strategic input from all members.

How to Apply for this Job at Ethical Apparel Africa

• Commencement date: May 2024
• Applications will be evaluated regularly.
• Please send your CV and a bespoke cover letter for the position to talent@ethicalapparelafrica.com, with “Senior Merch 24” explicitly specified in the subject line.
• Only full applications with the relevant references will be checked, and only the most qualified candidates will be invited to interviews.

EAA is committed to fair job opportunities, and we welcome talent from Africa and beyond. We especially encourage applications from women, people with disabilities, and ethnic minorities.

Closing Date: April 12, 2024

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