Overview
This role is critical in driving customer‑centric commercial outcomes whilst driving operational efficiency. You have the accountability for profit and cashflow through sales, margin and demand plans within the Buying & Merchandising professions and support budgets across connected stakeholders to ensure these are robust and deliver against strategy. You will work closely with the Commercial Planning team to provide commercial rigour in planning and forecasting to maximise profitability and customer satisfaction through driving availability and optimising working capital.
Qualifications
* Significant experience in merchandising: Proven track record of success in roles involving merchandising strategy development, inventory management, and supplier relationship management within the retail industry, with Own Brand and Branded experience.
* Experience in a leadership role: Demonstrated experience in leading and developing teams, with a track record of driving performance, fostering collaboration, and achieving business objectives.
* Retail industry knowledge: In-depth understanding of retail industry dynamics, market trends, and competitive landscape, enabling proactive adaptation to market changes and identification of emerging opportunities.
Desirable Skills
* Strong analytical skills: Proficiency in data analysis and interpretation, with the ability to derive actionable insights from sales data, market trends, and customer behaviour to inform merchandising strategies.
* Excellent communication and negotiation skills: Effective communication skills, both verbal and written, coupled with strong negotiation abilities to build and maintain relationships with suppliers and cross‑functional teams.
* Financial acumen: Sound understanding of financial metrics and profitability drivers, with experience in margin analysis, cost management, and budgeting to drive sustainable business growth.
* Proficiency in merchandising software and analytical tools: Familiarity with merchandising software, inventory management systems, and analytical tools to streamline processes and enhance decision‑making capabilities in a digital retail environment.
* Proven experience in strategic stock planning: Track record of success in strategic stock planning within a large retail environment, including forecasting demand, optimising inventory levels, and minimising wastage while ensuring product availability and cost control.
* Experience in pricing strategy and promotional activity: Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing pricing strategies and promotional activities to drive sales and profitability in a retail setting, including an understanding of competitive pricing dynamics and margin optimisation.
About the Company
We’re the largest employee‑owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.
We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never knowingly undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food‑lovers in Waitrose. As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can thrive. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.
We want all of our Partners to have a good work‑life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.
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