At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead merchandise planning to drive ASOS's product strategy and profitability.
- Company: Join ASOS, a global fashion retailer that celebrates individuality and creativity.
- Benefits: Enjoy employee discounts, private medical care, and 25 days of annual leave.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for personal growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while shaping the future of fashion.
- Qualifications: Strong numerical skills and experience in planning and team leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.
Company Description
We're ASOS, the online retailer for fashion lovers all around the world.
We exist to give our customers the confidence to be whoever they want to be, and that goes for our people too.
At ASOS, you're free to be your true self without judgement, and channel your creativity into a platform used by millions.
Everyone needs some help showing up as their best self.
We're Disability Confident Committed - let our Talent team know if you need any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
Job Description
As Head of Merchandise Planning, you will play a critical role in Global Merchandise Planning (GMP) - the team that shapes the dynamic merchandise financial framework guiding ASOS’s Product function toward profitable growth.
GMP empowers buying teams with informed financial plans, oversees holistic category performance, and continually refines budgets to reflect customer demand - ensuring the business invests in the right product, at the right time, in the right quantity.
You will hold strategic control of product category plans for your area of the business, working across Merchandise Financial Planning, Strategic Inventory Planning and Assortment Planning to translate strategy into budgets, width and depth, and open-to-buy (OTB) decisions.
You will lead a team of Planners and Assistant Planners in formulating short- and long-term category plans, distributing and re-allocating budgets, and interpreting performance to drive action and recommendation.
Reporting to the ASOS Merchandising Director, you will drive category performance with an end-to-end view across product teams, delivering a dynamic approach to OTB management that improves sales and margin - and doing it with the strategic alignment, commercial curiosity, proactivity and trusted partnership that GMP expects of every one of its leaders.
- 1. Strategic Thinking
- Support the Merchandising Director in formulating customer-facing (gender/category) pre-season sales and stock strategies, and distribute budgets to commercial product teams accordingly.
- Own strategic planning and trading of category performance, overseeing intake and OTB allocation to deliver the stock requirements the business needs.
- Determine investment priorities based on a combined view across insight, business units and categories.
- Maintain an agile, dynamic approach to OTB management that keeps ASOS flexible, drives profitability and protects competitive advantage.
- Maintain in-depth knowledge of category performance and KPIs, continually challenging and re-defining them to maximise sales and profit.
- Co-ordinate and oversee delivery of end-use strategies (e. g. cold weather, high summer, occasion), providing product teams with budget and phasing guidance.
- Interpret analytical data to guide width and depth by product type across business units.
- Set price status guidelines for product categories to protect full-price performance.
- 2. Business Knowledge
- Drive in-season trading through re-allocation of budgets based on customer demand, optimising stock health and Prime Stock Mix.
- Use supply chain and lead-time expertise to keep the buy agile and flexible to changing customer demand.
- Assimilate channel team requirements into category plans to ensure local market needs are met.
- Use the latest analytical data to support decision-making, analysing trading patterns and acting on unexpected sales reactions or budget gaps.
- Partner with your buying division director(s) to translate the Merchandise Financial Planning framework into a category strategy they believe in — the plan only works if the narrative behind the numbers lands.
- 3. Leadership
- Manage a Merchandise Planning team, making strategic and trading decisions in a fast-paced environment.
- Translate GMP and company strategy into clear team objectives, empowering Planners and Assistant Planners to deliver against them.
- Champion GMP’s Alignment, Ownership, Energy behaviours across the team - clear priorities, unambiguous ownership, and a pace that sustains engagement.
- Contribute to the Merchandise Planning Evolution programme, supporting capability-building and the team’s adoption of new planning tools, including GMP’s emerging agentic AI pilots.
- Encourage cross-functional collaboration with buying, trading and channel teams, leading through top-down target setting.
- 4. Problem Solving
- Evaluate complex situations using multiple sources of information to formulate a general direction with outcomes aligned to Product function strategy, including:
- Long-term business unit projections
- Category budget, OTB and intake planning
- Width and depth guidance
- Price architecture and status guidance
- 5. Impact
- Support the Merchandising Director in influencing the wider Product function through advice, guidance and counsel.
- Revenue and profitability are key measures of success, alongside contribution to GMP’s shared Key Results - GMV Net Sales growth, Prime Stock Mix, and Prime Sell Through.
- Provide analysis and visibility of performance KPIs, ultimately supporting ASOS’s corporate targets for 12-week Prime sell-through and 52-week product ROI.
Qualifications
- Commercial approach and control of financial budgets and targets.
- Strong numerical acumen to manage performance by category.
- Expertise in planning, and in managing sales, stock, intake and OTB.
- Ability to make decisions in a fast-paced environment.
- Fashion/market knowledge to guide trade-off decisions between business units.
- Ability to work cross-functionally to drive the best outcome for ASOS.
- Proven ability to manage, lead and develop a team.
- Commercially curious and insight-led, with a proactive rather than reactive approach to trading decisions.
- Strong organisational skills; able to use initiative and work in a pressurised environment.
- Excellent communication skills, able to influence colleagues and stakeholders at all levels, including Director level.
- Attention to detail.
- Computer literate, with advanced Excel skills; comfortable working within Oracle or equivalent planning systems
- Additional Information
Bene FITs
- Employee discount (hello ASOS discount!)
- Employee sample sales
- 25 days paid annual leave + an extra celebration day for a special moment
- Private medical care scheme
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- Opportunity for personalised learning and in-the-moment experiences that enable you to thrive and excel in your role
We believe being together in person helps us move faster, connect more deeply, and achieve more as a team.
That's why our approach to working together includes spending at least 3 days a week in the office.
Its a rhythm that speeds up decision-making, helps ASOSers learn from each other more quickly, and builds the kind of culture where people can grow, create, and succeed.
Why take our word for it? Search #Inside ASOS on our socials to see what life at ASOS is like.
Head of Merchandise Planning in London employer: ASOS
ASOS, the parent company of TOPSHOP and TOPMAN, is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture in the heart of London. With a strong commitment to employee growth, you will benefit from personalised learning opportunities and a supportive environment that encourages creativity and innovation. Enjoy competitive benefits such as generous annual leave, private medical care, and exclusive employee discounts, all while being part of a dynamic team dedicated to shaping the future of fashion.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Merchandise Planning in London
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like ASOS, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like ASOS!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Merchandise Planning in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at ASOS, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at ASOS and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show ASOS that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at ASOS
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
