Merchandise Manager - New Partnerships

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Merchandise Manager - New Partnerships

🔹 Company: Activate Talent

🔹 Location: Philippines

🔹 Job Type: Independent Contractor

🔹 Category: Merchandising & Brand Management

🔹 Date Posted: July 7, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 2-5 years

🔹 Remote Status: 100% Remote

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Supporting a strategic initiative to recruit new brands to the portfolio
• Onboarding vendors and coordinating on-site launches
• Managing relationships with vendors and internal teams
• Working remotely with a collaborative, global team

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high degree of self-motivation and organization, as well as strong communication skills to work effectively in a remote environment.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Securing partnerships with lighting vendors through targeted outreach and negotiations

✅ Onboarding vendors by setting them up in the system and obtaining necessary item setup forms

✅ Coordinating on-site launches, including submitting creative briefs and ensuring a good site experience

✅ Communicating new brand stories and passing key marketing assets to relevant teams for launch campaigns

✅ Managing ongoing relationships with vendors and passing them off to the Merchandising Team

ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high level of multitasking and requires the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Undergraduate degree in Business Administration, Merchandising, Marketing, or a related field

Experience: Minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience

Required Skills:

• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Able to build collaborative relationships with internal and external partners
• Sense of urgency, detail-oriented, and clear communication skills
• Ability to express ideas precisely, persuasively, and effectively
• Operate independently with minimal daily supervision
• Commitment to continuous improvement

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Microsoft Office and Netsuite

ASSUMPTION: While experience with the preferred systems is not required, it would be beneficial for candidates to have some familiarity with them.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The salary range for this role is estimated to be between PHP 40,000 - 60,000 per month, based on industry standards for a Merchandise Manager role in the Philippines with 2-5 years of experience. This is an estimate and the actual salary may vary based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to work remotely with a global team
• Exposure to a fast-paced, dynamic work environment
• Potential for career growth and development

Working Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Philippine Standard Time)

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research and may vary depending on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Activate Talent is a staffing and recruiting company that specializes in connecting businesses with top-tier talent. They operate in a competitive industry that requires a strong focus on customer service and a deep understanding of the talent market.

Company Size: Activate Talent has 1,001-5,000 employees, which places it in the mid-size category. This size allows for a diverse range of opportunities and a robust support structure for employees.

Founded: Activate Talent was founded with the purpose of revolutionizing talent acquisition by streamlining the process and connecting businesses with top-tier talent.

Company Description:

• Activate Talent is committed to boosting productivity and cutting labor costs for its clients by providing them with premium talent.
• The company acts with a growth mindset, taking an expansive approach to what's possible and believing in continuous learning to improve its business and its employees.
• Activate Talent focuses on four key core values: Team First, Whatever It Takes, Win On Service, and Be Curious.

Company Specialties:

• Recruiting
• Talent acquisition
• Hiring

Company Website: activatetalent.com

ASSUMPTION: Activate Talent's focus on continuous learning and improvement creates an environment where employees are encouraged to grow and develop their skills.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is at the mid-level career stage, requiring a balance of strategic thinking and tactical execution. It is an ideal position for candidates looking to gain experience in merchandising and brand management.

Reporting Structure: The Merchandise Manager reports directly to the Director of Merchandising and works closely with the Merchandising and Marketing teams.

Work Arrangement: This role is 100% remote, with the expectation that the candidate will work Philippine Standard Time (PST) hours.

Growth Opportunities:

• As Activate Talent continues to grow, there may be opportunities for the right candidate to take on more responsibility and advance their career within the company.
• This role provides exposure to various aspects of merchandising and brand management, allowing the candidate to develop a broad skill set.

ASSUMPTION: Activate Talent's focus on continuous learning and improvement creates opportunities for employees to grow and develop their skills, both within this role and throughout their career with the company.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: This role is 100% remote, with no physical office requirement.

Office Location(s): N/A

Geographic Context:

• The Philippines has a tropical marine climate and is located in Southeast Asia.
• The country has a diverse culture and is known for its friendly people and beautiful landscapes.
• The Philippines is also home to a growing tech industry, with many multinational companies establishing operations in the country.

Work Schedule: The work schedule for this role is Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Philippine Standard Time).

ASSUMPTION: While this role is remote, the candidate should be prepared to work Philippine Standard Time (PST) hours and be available for meetings and collaboration with the global team.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screen with the Hiring Manager
• Technical assessment or case study
• Final interview with the Hiring Manager and/or other team members
• Background check and offer

Key Assessment Areas:

• Problem-solving skills
• Communication and collaboration skills
• Attention to detail
• Cultural fit with Activate Talent's core values

Application Tips:

• Highlight relevant experience and achievements in your resume, using specific examples to demonstrate your skills and qualifications.
• Tailor your cover letter to the role, explaining why you are interested in the position and how your skills and experience make you a strong fit.
• Prepare for behavioral interview questions by reflecting on your past experiences and how they have prepared you for this role.

ATS Keywords: Merchandising, Brand Management, Partnerships, Vendor Management, Onboarding, Lighting Vendors, Marketing, Collaboration, Remote Work

ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role may include assessments or case studies to evaluate the candidate's problem-solving and analytical skills.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Netsuite (preferred, but not required)
• Zoom or MS Teams for collaboration and communication

ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with Microsoft Office is essential for this role, as it is used for communication, reporting, and project management. While experience with Netsuite is preferred, it is not required, and training will be provided if necessary.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Team First - we collaborate and support each other
• Whatever It Takes - we get it done
• Win On Service - we do right by our customers
• Be Curious - we seek creative, data-driven solutions

Work Style:

• Highly collaborative, with a focus on teamwork and communication
• Fast-paced and dynamic, with a focus on results and continuous improvement
• Remote-friendly, with a focus on flexibility and work-life balance

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you thrive in a collaborative, team-oriented environment?
• Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic setting and managing multiple projects simultaneously?
• Do you have a strong sense of urgency and a commitment to getting things done?

ASSUMPTION: Activate Talent places a strong emphasis on cultural fit, and candidates who align with the company's core values and work style are more likely to be successful in the role.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Working remotely with a global team, requiring strong communication and collaboration skills
• Adapting to a fast-paced, dynamic work environment
• Dealing with the time zone differences when working with global teams

ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong organizational skills, effective communication, and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role is similar to a Brand Manager or a Vendor Management role, but with a focus on securing new partnerships and managing the onboarding process for vendors.
• In the staffing and recruiting industry, this role is unique in its focus on merchandising and brand management for a specific product category (lighting vendors).
• Career paths for this role may include advancement to a Senior Merchandise Manager or a similar role in a different product category, or a move into a more strategic or leadership role within the company.

ASSUMPTION: While this role is unique in its focus on merchandising and brand management for lighting vendors, the skills and experience gained in this role are transferable to other roles within the company and the industry.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and executing a strategic plan to secure partnerships with a targeted list of lighting vendors
• Managing the onboarding process for a new vendor, including setting them up in the system and obtaining the necessary item setup forms
• Coordinating the launch of a new brand, including submitting creative briefs and ensuring a good site experience

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects are designed to give candidates an idea of the types of tasks and responsibilities they can expect in this role. The actual projects and responsibilities may vary depending on the needs of the business and the candidate's skills and experience.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
• How does this role fit into the overall merchandising and brand management strategy for the company?
• What are the biggest challenges facing the merchandising team currently, and how can this role help address them?
• How does Activate Talent support the professional development and growth of its employees?
• What is the work-life balance like for this role, and how does the company support remote employees?

ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to help candidates better understand the role, the team, and the company, and to assess whether the role is a good fit for their skills, experience, and career goals.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
• Prepare for the interview by reflecting on your past experiences and how they have prepared you for this role
• Follow up with the Hiring Manager after the interview to express your appreciation and reiterate your interest in the role

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.