Brand Manager

We are an established fashion retail company in Malaysia. In line with our expansion and quest for quality excellence, we are seeking dynamic and career-minded individual to fill the following position: -

A Brand Manager in the fashion industry is the strategic leader and guardian of the brand. They are responsible for everything from how the brand is perceived in the market to how it performs financially. It's a role that blends creative marketing with hard-nosed business strategy.

I. Core Responsibilities & Key Areas

Brand Strategy & Positioning

1.1. Develop the Brand Identity: Define and maintain the brand's core identity, including its mission, vision, values, target audience, and unique selling propositions (USPs).

1.2. Market & Competitor Analysis: Continuously research the market, consumer trends, and competitor activities to identify opportunities and threats.

1.3. Brand Positioning: Strategically position the brand within the competitive landscape to maximize fashion and profitability.

1.4. Long-Term Planning: Create the annual and seasonal brand marketing plan, outlining goals, strategies, budgets, and key performance indicators (KPIs).

Product Development & Merchandising Alignment

2.1 Market-Back Input: Work closely with the design and product development teams, providing crucial market insights, trend forecasts, and consumer needs to inform the product assortment.

2.2. Range Planning:  aligns with the brand strategy and financial targets.

2.3 Go-to-Market Strategy: Lead the product go-to-market (GTM) process from a marketing perspective, ensuring a cohesive launch plan for each collection.

Marketing & Communications (MarCom)

3.1 Omni-channel Campaigns: Develop and execute integrated marketing campaigns across all channels: digital (social media, email, SEO/SEM), retail (in-store visuals), and wholesale.

3.2 Content Strategy: Oversee the creation of all brand content, including lookbooks, e-commerce imagery, blog posts, and video content, ensuring a consistent brand voice and aesthetic.

3.3 Public Relations & Influencer Marketing

3.4 Brand Partnerships & Collaborations

Financial & Commercial Management

4.1 Budget Management: Own the brand marketing budget, allocating resources efficiently across various initiatives and ensuring a strong return on investment (ROI).

Sales & Profitability Analysis: Track and analyse key business metrics, including sales, sell-through rates, gross margin, and inventory levels.

4.2 Forecasting: Work with the sales and demand planning teams to forecast sales for new collections and manage inventory to minimize markdowns.

Channel Management

5.1 E-commerce: Partner with the e-commerce team to optimize the online customer journey, from product discovery to checkout, ensuring the brand is represented effectively.

5.2 Retail: Work with visual merchandising and retail operations to ensure consistent brand presentation and customer experience in physical stores.

5.3 Wholesale: Support wholesale accounts (other retailers) with marketing materials, training, and co-op advertising initiatives to ensure they represent the brand correctly.

Leasing & Deal Making

6.1 Negotiation: Negotiate all terms of the lease agreement, including base rent, percentage rent, lease term, tenant improvement allowances (TIA), and other critical clauses.

6.2 Deal Structuring: Structure attractive and financially viable deals

II. Key Skills and Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in marketing, Business, Fashion Merchandising, or a related field. An MBA is often preferred for senior roles.

Experience: 5-8 years of experience in brand management, marketing, or merchandising, preferably within the fashion or consumer goods industry.

Analytical Skills: Strong ability to interpret market data, sales figures, consumer insights, and market research to make informed decisions.

Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills for presenting strategies, writing briefs, and leading teams.

Leadership & Collaboration: Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams (design, merchandising, sales, PR) without direct authority.

Business Acumen: A solid understanding of P&L statements, budgeting and overall business operations for Online & Offline and retail economics.