About the job
THE ROLE
Join Debenhams Group as we embark on a transformative journey to reinvigorate our brand, culture, and relationships with both colleagues and customers. In today’s dynamic retail landscape, authentic communication is key to fostering trust and creating alignment within our teams, enhancing the effectiveness of our strategies both internally and externally.
We are seeking a seasoned Senior Merchandiser to become a vital part of our Merchandising team. This is an exciting opportunity to manage a prominent department within a fast-paced retail environment. You will play a crucial role in shaping product strategies, guiding trading decisions, and optimizing commercial performance. Collaborating closely with our Buying team, suppliers, and brand partners, you will enjoy a position with significant visibility and leadership responsibilities, along with the chance to cultivate talent, drive innovation, and significantly contribute to our growth.
This position is a 12-month fixed-term contract, based in our central Manchester office.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Financial Management
- Drive the commercial performance and profitability of designated product categories, leveraging data and insights to inform strategic and trading decisions.
- Lead the development of category budgets, option plans, and depth of buy in alignment with overall business objectives.
- Manage WSSI to ensure optimal stock levels through proactive analysis of sales, intake, and anticipated demand.
- Continuously review and adjust forecasts for sales and stock levels based on performance metrics, identifying risks and opportunities.
- Conduct strategic analysis of product performance, implementing actionable strategies to capitalize on strengths and mitigate weaknesses.
- Recommend promotional activities, markdown strategies, and rebuys to support trading objectives.
- Oversee buying margins and gross profit delivery, ensuring financial targets are achieved.
- Maximize the performance potential of key and best-selling products through strategic stock management and trading initiatives.
- Collaborate closely with the Head of Merchandising and Buying teams, providing commercially-focused insights to inform strategic decisions.
Process and Departmental Enhancement
- Promote best practices within merchandising and trading, identifying opportunities for process improvement and system enhancements.
- Engage in team development and training to enhance overall departmental performance.
