Description
Starting salary: £32,255
Contract type: Fixed term until 02 May 2028
Grade: 3
Location: Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh EH9 1SH (with hybrid working if applicable)
Working Hours: 35 hours per week (Full-time), 28 hours per week (Part-time)
Interviews: To be held on Week Commencing 05 January 2026
The retail team buys and develops product for sale in our outlets across Scotland and our online shop Stór. As Senior Merchandiser you will be responsible for ensuring that retail products appear in the right stores at the right time, in the correct quantities and are meeting budget targets. The right information is key to our business; therefore, you will ensure that the correct reports and analysis are prepared and developed.
For more information about the post and information about the team, please access the full job description for this post. Please note that if you don't have Office 365 installed on your device, this can be opened using your browser.
Benefits of joining us at Historic Environment Scotland
* Enrolment onto a Civil Service Pension scheme – 28% employer contribution
* 25 days annual leave, pro-rata (increasing to 30 days after 3 years public holidays
* Reimbursement for relevant professional subscriptions
* Support for further education and personal development
* Study leave for work related courses
* Flexible working hours (where appropriate)
* Free entry to all of our properties (with up to three guests)
* Free entry to English Heritage, Manx and Cadw properties
Key Responsibilities of this role
* Daily management of Category Merchandisers, including overseeing of order processing, accurate preparation of stock plans for sites are completed, continuously updated and communicated, and orders are placed timely and within budget.
* Line management of Retail Admin Assistant, including overseeing and providing support on refunds/complaints and stock invoice queries, using problem solving and initiative to ensure speedy resolution to customers and payment of supplier invoices on time.
* Develop, prepare and interrogate analysis across all measures and KPI's, from multiple reporting platforms, highlighting issues/opportunities and presenting the information through various methods of communication to the wider retail team, senior management and other key stakeholders to assist with decision making.
* Provide ongoing support to the retail managers and site teams at our top 3 stores, assessing and analysing stock levels and sales to highlight issues/opportunities, preparing and updating stock lists, leading on monthly meetings and communicating concerns to the HQ retail team.
* Manage stock levels at the warehouse, sites and online shop while staying within budget, ensuring availability to minimise out-of-stock levels and with a focus on improving profit/margin, and liaising with and highlighting issues to internal stakeholders.
* Continual review, improvement and implementation of ordering, analysis and stock processes.
* Provide ongoing support to external suppliers on stock orders, queries and forecasting, negotiating pricing and supply and providing long term forecasts to support their business and ensure continuous availability for our stores.
* Support sites and compliance team with stock adjustments and stock takes, attending warehouse stock takes, highlighting issues, providing guidance and using analysis and reporting to ensure shrinkage remains within set KPIs.
* Liaise with the Visual Merchandising Manager to manage critical paths, meet deadlines and ensure they have the analysis and stock they require for store site visits and shop refits.
* Provide ongoing support to the Buying Manager and buying team by developing and providing analysis to influence products developed and stocked, reviewing suppliers and ensuring margin targets are met, product supply issues are addressed, pricing is correct, and products are allocated appropriately.
* Work with colleagues in Commercial Systems and Compliance teams to ensure accuracy and implementation of stock management system, delivering training and guidance to sites as required.
* Deputise for Merchandising Manager and support in business as usual tasks to enable more efficient delivery of objectives and delivery of retail strategy and projects.
Key requirements of the role:
In order for you to be successful in this post, we will be looking for you to submit a cover letter which addresses how you can meet each of the essential and desirable criteria (in up to 1,200 words), using examples of where you have demonstrated these criteria previously. Please ensure that you provide real life examples for each of the criteria to be considered for this post. You can use examples of how you have met this criteria from your work life, home life, education or volunteer experience. Please read our CV and Cover Letter Guidance first before completing, as you will only be eligible for selection if you use examples of how you meet the essential and desirable criteria.
Essential:
* Previous experience in a merchandiser position with trading responsibility.
* Management experience, including managing workload, training and conducting yearly reviews.
* Understanding of all Retail Key Performance Indicators.
* Advanced user of Microsoft Excel, including experience in creating reports from multiple platforms.
* Experience with stock management and stock control system.
* Experience building supplier relationships, negotiating prices and forecasting.
* Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.
* Excellent time management skills with ability to multitask to meet deadlines and adhere to critical paths.
* Excellent interpersonal skills and experience building strong relationships with key stakeholders, including retail managers, and being able to influence decisions.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
* Excellent ability to adapt quickly to fast changing environments.
Find out more about desirable skills and experience in our full job description.
We are dedicated to building a workforce which is reflective of diversity within Scotland. We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, gender or gender identity, religious beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or neurodiversity. In support of our Gaelic Language Plan, we welcome applications from Gaelic speakers.
We want every candidate to have the best chance to succeed during the recruitment process. If you require your application in an alternative format, please reach out to us via email at or call our Head Office at and speak to a member of our People Team.
Please note that, at this time, we are unfortunately unable to provide sponsorship as part of the recruitment process, therefore you must have current right to work in the UK to be considered for a post.
To submit your application online, please read our 'How to Apply' followed by 'Apply Now' button to begin your application.