Junior Factory Merchandiser

Position based in Koforidua (Easter region)

 

Company description

Maagrace Garment Industries Limited (MGIL) is an apparel manufacturing firm created in 2003. Currently the factory has approximately 500 operators with the space to grow to employ 800 individuals. It is the largest employer in a region of a million people. Their vision is to develop a model factory that can show how ethical manufacturing can be done at scale in an African context. This will be achieved through innovation, efficiency and integrity, providing the best quality products to customers whilst empowering their workforce, especially women. MGIL also has a Foundation focused on improving workers health and wellbeing and alleviating poverty within its neighboring communities. 

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MGIL is partnering with Ethical Apparel Africa (EAA), a sourcing company that provides international apparel brands with ethical, cost competitive and quality manufacturing solutions in West Africa. Based in Ghana, EAA has a dynamic team bringing decades of experience from around the world in product development, quality assurance, account management, social impact, operations and finance. EAA works with West African factories to build technical and ethical standards to international standards. Their clients are international brands mostly from Europe and the USA interested in growing a manufacturing base in Africa.

 

Position overview

The Junior Merchandiser will report to MGIL Planning Manager with a dotted line to EAA Merchandising Manager. She/he will be responsible for the factory merchandising process for all garment and accessories produced at MGIL including on all fabric and trims specifications approved.   They will have the following responsibilities:

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Cross team communication and planning 

• Coordinate with the EAA team to understand the CP timeline and support the MGIL team by updating urgent tasks.

• Closely work with the planning team to ensure all orders are completed on time.

• Liaise with the factory production team to update CP and communicate to EAA merchandising team any delays and agreed corrective actions

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Support to Warehouse and Sampling departments

• Ensure ongoing and clear communication between EAA and MGIL warehouse, cutting and sampling teams to ensure on time delivery of raw material and samples

• Liaise with the Warehouse team for all raw material (RM) dispatch and record it correctly

• Conduct random check the RM inventory and reconciliation with the warehouse team 

• Follow H&S and C-TPAT requirements for compliance requirements

• Train the sampling department on Product trims and fabric expectations as per the approved trim card and ensure all trims and accessories are available before any sample starts. 

• Check all trims and accessories during the sampling stage and correct any error.

• Work closely with the Quality manager to ensure sample makers follow tech packs and work according to buyers' quality specifications. 

• Update the sample room tracker on an ongoing basis for management review

• Coordinate the delivery of approved samples from MGIL sample department to EAA Technical department (review and inspection) including proper signed documentation for sample release

• Manage all daily operational needs of the Sample department. 

• Closely work with the Product Development and Head of Sampling department to ensure the sampling team follows costing priorities and risk assessment notes are well captured.

 

Technical Tools Management

• Work closely with the EAA merchandising team to understand trims cards and accessories that have been approved by the Client for each order produced at MGIL

• Review trim cards and production tech packs and make sure bulk production matches approved quality standards as per Client expectations

• Lead PP meetings with all heads of department (warehouse, cutting, line feeding, quality and production) before the start of production to highlight critical components and clear confusion. 

• After the start of bulk production, monitor the use of fabric and trims (against approved trim cards) and submit weekly or daily reports where necessary. 

• Assist the factory senior production manager in all aspects of factory merchandising.

 

Qualifications & Attributes

• Successful experience in merchandising, raw material inventory, planning (minimum of 3 years)

• Excellent computer skills and agility to use mails, Google drive and adoption of Enterprise resource Planning (ERP).

• Exceptional communication skills across cultures (oral and written) and ability to deliver strong reports

• Willing to travel from Koforidua to Accra to coordinate with local suppliers.

• Ability to work independently on self-directed projects with an entrepreneurial attitude

• Ability to think critically, identify problem root causes, learn and progress

• Evidence of the following characteristics: proactive, self aware; resilient and adaptable; persistent and resourceful; able to work under pressure and respect deadlines, apt at both strengthening relationships and resolving problems, poised, active listener; fun to work with; full of integrity; ability to multi-task and thrive in a fast-paced environment 

 

How to apply

• Start date ASAP

• As applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, kindly send a resume ​and a separate and specific cover letter for this position ​to info@maagrace.com, using the reference “MGIL Merch 23”​ as the subject of your email

• Only complete applications with accurate reference will be considered and only the most qualified candidates will be short-listed for interview

• We are an equal opportunity employer, recruiting talents from Africa and all over the world, both women and men are highly encouraged to apply.

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More information on https://www.maagrace.com/ 

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