Head of Sourcing and Merchandising- Impulse

Job Title: Head of Sourcing & Merchandising- Impulse and Seasonal

Location: Shanghai, China

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Job Summary:

We are seeking an energetic, fast paced, and results-driven Head of Sourcing & Merchandising for our Impulse & Seasonal (I&S) hard goods category to lead the development and execution of products and strategies, build key international relationships (suppliers and customers), identify new business opportunities, and coordinate merchandising/product development and sourcing strategies for fast-moving hard goods in global markets. This role requires deep knowledge of impulse and/or seasonal categories, eye for trend and design, merchandising and sourcing experience, and the ability to work across cultures and geographies, especially with regional officers of retailers.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Management

• Lead and mentor a high-performing team of Shanghai-based I&S merchandisers.
• Foster a creative, collaborative, and agile team culture focused on trend leadership and speed to market.

Business Development

• Develop and execute I&S strategies together with EVP of Merchandising I & S and COO to drive revenue growth across key markets.
• Identify and establish strong relationships with vendors, retailers, and trade partners within identified regions.
• Manage existing international accounts local relationship such as Target TSS and PSQA, Walmart China/SEA regional offices, Tesco China/SEA regional offices, Hallmark etc., ensuring sales targets are met or exceeded.
• Identify trends in market and determine where/how to source in market, working closely with strategic sourcing dept.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and agreements in line with company policies with our strategic vendors.
• Monitor competitor activity and market trends to identify new opportunities or threats for Horizon Group USA I&S business.

Merchandising & Product Strategy

• Collaborate with US Creative Merchandising team to develop assortments aligned with market demand.
• Work with design, sourcing, and merchandising teams to balance trend, cost, and feasibility.
• Manage seasonal merchandise plans and pricing strategies by closely liaising with Vendors and USO teams.
• Ensure speed-to-market and agility for fast-trending or impulse products, often with shorter lead times.
• Identify suppliers that can meet lead time, quality, compliance, etc. requirements.
• Ensure all seasonal launches meet compliance, sustainability, and brand standards.

Cross-functional Coordination

• Work closely with Shanghai office branch head, logistics, compliance, and production teams to ensure timely delivery and regulatory compliance in all countries.
• Support trade show participation, customer visits, and virtual showrooms to showcase the product line in China and SEA.

Reporting & Analysis

• Track I&S performance, forecast trends, and report KPIs to senior management.
• Provide regular insights into customer buying behavior and market performance.
• Analyze profitability by SKU, customer, and region to optimize product mix and identify profitability improvement strategies.

Requirements:

Qualifications:

• 10-15 years' experience in product development and sourcing in hard goods categories required.
• MUST have experience with custom/exclusive product development.
• Experience in an impulse and/or seasonal category is highly preferred.
• Must have experience with US market and retailers such as Target, Dollar General, Walmart, etc.
• Must have COP (country of production) knowledge along with up-to-date tariff knowledge

Skills:

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Fluent in English; Mandarin is highly preferred.

Other:

• Willingness to travel internationally (10-30% depending on role and season) as well as to factories within China and SEA for multiple days at a time.
• Knowledge of global compliance standards (e.g., CE, UL, FSC, etc.) is an advantage.