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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead merchandising strategy and drive commercial performance for a fast-growing retailer.
- Company: Join a dynamic, ambitious brand with a focus on growth and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private healthcare, and an uncapped bonus scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a senior role with opportunities for personal development.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in merchandising with strong analytical and leadership skills.
- Other info: Be part of a high-performing team in a collaborative environment.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Forward Role has partnered with a fast-growing retailer on the search for a commercially driven Head of Merchandising to take ownership of trading performance and lead the merchandising function into its next phase of growth. This is a senior leadership role with full accountability for sales, margin, stock and intake performance.
The Role
As Head of Merchandising, you will be the senior owner of commercial performance across the business. You will translate ambitious growth targets into robust forecasts, disciplined stock investment plans, and profitable trading outcomes. You will lead forecasting, Open-to-Buy (OTB), WSSI and inventory strategy across all DTC channels, ensuring capital is deployed effectively and risk is proactively managed.
Key Responsibilities
- Own weekly and seasonal trading performance (sales, margin, stock and intake)
- Build and manage annual and seasonal forecasts, including phasing and reforecasting
- Drive stock efficiency, weeks of cover and sell-through performance
- Own pricing architecture, promotional planning and markdown strategy
- Protect and optimise margin through disciplined trading decisions
- Analyse performance vs forecast and act decisively on risks and opportunities
- Optimise stock levels across categories, channels and territories
- Lead intake phasing to balance availability, cash flow and risk
- Own end-of-season planning and stock clearance strategy
- Establish and manage merchandising KPIs and reporting cadence
- Improve forecasting accuracy through data insight and post-season analysis
- Bring market, competitor and channel insights into planning decisions
- Build, lead and develop a high-performing merchandising team
About You
- Minimum 5+ years' experience in a senior merchandising role
- Proven track record delivering growth in a DTC-led business (ecommerce & retail)
- Strong commercial acumen with exceptional analytical capability
- Experience managing large stock and intake budgets
- Confident leading weekly trade meetings and influencing senior stakeholders
- Advanced Excel skills
- Strong communication and presentation skills
- Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple priorities
- A collaborative leader who builds strong cross-functional relationships
What's On Offer
- 25 days holiday + your birthday off
- Uncapped bonus scheme
- Private healthcare
- Staff discount
- Ongoing personal development opportunities
- The opportunity to play a key role in a high-growth, ambitious brand
Head of Merchandising in Birkenhead employer: Forward Role
Contact Detail:
Forward Role Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Merchandising in Birkenhead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the retail and merchandising space. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s recent performance and trends in the market. Bring insights to the table that show you understand their challenges and opportunities. This will help you stand out as a candidate who’s ready to hit the ground running.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your analytical skills! Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in your previous roles. Prepare examples of how you’ve optimised stock levels or improved trading performance – this is key for a Head of Merchandising role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’re always updating our listings with exciting opportunities. Keep an eye on our pages and make sure your application stands out by tailoring it to the specific role you’re after.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Merchandising in Birkenhead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Head of Merchandising role. Highlight your experience in managing stock and intake budgets, and showcase your commercial acumen. We want to see how you've driven growth in a DTC-led business!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this senior leadership role. Share specific examples of how you've optimised trading performance and led successful merchandising teams. We love a good story!
Show Off Your Analytical Skills: Since this role requires strong analytical capability, don’t shy away from showcasing your Excel skills. Include any relevant data insights or forecasting accuracy improvements you've achieved in previous roles. Numbers speak volumes!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Let’s get you on board!
How to prepare for a job interview at Forward Role
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Head of Merchandising, you'll need to demonstrate your commercial acumen. Brush up on key metrics like sales, margin, and stock levels. Be ready to discuss how you've driven performance in these areas in your previous roles.
✨Forecast Like a Pro
Prepare to talk about your experience with forecasting and inventory strategies. Bring examples of how you've built robust forecasts and managed Open-to-Buy (OTB) effectively. This will show that you can translate growth targets into actionable plans.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role requires strong leadership, so be prepared to share your experiences in building and managing high-performing teams. Discuss how you've influenced stakeholders and led trade meetings to drive results.
✨Be Data-Driven
Highlight your analytical capabilities by discussing how you've used data insights to improve forecasting accuracy and trading decisions. Prepare to give examples of how you've acted on performance analysis to seize opportunities or mitigate risks.