Does working for a Brand like ours excite you? If
so, becoming part of the Saltrock family and being based in North
Devon could be part of your next adventure!
For over 30 years, Saltrock; a British, coastal,
lifestyle brand, has had holiday, family, spirt and fun at its heart. Our
inspiration flows from land and sea, waves and coastline. Designed in the South
West since 1988 we have grown into a loved Devon brand known for its iconic
print designs.
We are looking for a Senior Merchandiser to come aboard on a Maternity Cover contract starting in April for a minimum of 12 months.
The role of
the Senior Merchandiser is to support the Head of Merchandising in driving the
overall merchandising strategy, maximising sales, margin, and cash through
effective planning, trading, and stock management. The Senior Merchandiser will
lead a team and ensure ranges are delivered with the right product, in the
right place, at the right time, in the right quantity, and at the right price
across all channels.
The role plays
a key part in shaping commercial decisions, minimising markdown risk, and
delivering company KPIs while working closely with Product, Buying, and the wider
business teams.
Key
Responsibilities
Planning &
Strategy
* Analyse
historical performance and customer behaviour to inform future product and
category strategy in collaboration with the Product and Buying teams.
* Build and
manage robust seasonal plans aligned to range, category, and segment
strategies across all channels.
* Lead
stock and intake planning, setting optimum stock targets while considering
lead times, buffer stock, and channel requirements.
* Develop
and manage pricing strategies in partnership with Product to achieve
margin and profit targets.
* Own and
contribute to WSSI planning alongside the Head of Merchandising, ensuring
alignment to KPI budgets.
* Present
clear, commercially focused insights and recommendations at sign-off,
trade, and senior leadership meetings.
* Monitor
competitor activity and market trends, challenging and influencing future
product and trading strategies.
Trading &
Performance Management
* Own
weekly and period trading reviews, ensuring accurate forecasting of sales,
stock, and intake.
* Reconcile
and validate the weekly management pack, ensuring data integrity and clear
commercial insight.
* Maximise
performance during peak trading periods (e.g. Summer, Christmas, Sale),
building plans to drive sales and mitigate risk.
* Manage
promotional and markdown strategies to optimise sell-through, minimise
obsolete stock, and protect margin.
* Ensure
orders are placed in line with forecasts, trading performance, and
ordering cycles.
Systems &
Process
* Maintain
expert-level knowledge of all merchandising systems, including WSSI tools.
* Ensure
effective use of allocation and sales reactive systems to maximise
full-price sell-through and availability.
* Identify
opportunities to improve systems, processes, and ways of working, driving
efficiency and best practice.
* Conduct
detailed data integrity and stock checks to support accurate reporting and
planning.
Leadership
& Development
* Lead,
coach, and develop the merchandising team, ensuring high performance and
clear accountability.
* Support
training and progression of team members, building future merchandising
capability.
* Foster
strong cross-functional relationships across Product, Operations, Finance,
and Digital teams.
* Take
ownership of personal development and demonstrate leadership behaviours
aligned with company values.
Key Skills & Experience
Essential
* Strong
advanced Excel and analytical skills
* Highly
numerate with strong commercial acumen
* Proven
experience in a Head Office merchandising environment
* Sound
understanding of critical path, product lifecycle, and stock management
* Confident
communicator with strong presentation skills
* Experience
managing and developing a team
* Ability
to prioritise and manage a heavy workload in a fast-paced environment
* Proactive,
self-motivated, and solutions-focused
* Strong
organisational and problem-solving skills
* Flexible,
confident, and enthusiastic approach
Desirable
* Experience
working in a multi-channel retail environment (store and eCommerce)
* Knowledge
of Futura, QlikView, or similar merchandising and BI systems
Reporting to:
Head of Merchandising