Merchandiser - Apparel in Bury

Join JD Sports Fashion and contribute to one of the world’s leading omni‑channel retailers of sports fashion, outdoors and gym products. JD Sports Fashion PLC is quoted on the London Stock Exchange and has a global footprint across many markets.

Role Overview

The Merchandiser is a key member of the Merchandising function, supporting the team to achieve departmental goals of sales, profit and stock. The role involves ensuring the right stock and intake is available, identifying commercial opportunities and leading and managing a small team.

Responsibilities

• Creates, evaluates and analyses historical analysis packs to identify opportunities, risks and missed potential.
• Drives own department strategy aligning with wider business goals.
• Shares analysis during brand meetings to support decision making.
• Collaborates with the Buying team to decide department direction.
• Builds and accurately completes the product mix pack.
• Creates sign‑off packs and manages critical path for key brands.
• Loads departmental plans into the WSSI after product mix.
• Ensures teams utilise the central MADS ratio tool for accurate ratios.
• Manages intake plans and identifies key bookings.
• Creates department weekly trade email for SMT.
• Uses reporting to review and analyse performance and identify key trading actions.
• Leads team trade meetings.
• Builds and maintains relationships across the business with key stakeholders.
• Manages terminal stock for department and/or brands.
• Investigates and analyses store/area performance to identify improvement areas.
• Oversees, monitors and guides team on branch trading actions.
• Builds market awareness by country, region and area to inform trading decisions.
• Drives and develops the team, supporting with training where required.
• Reviews current processes to identify improved ways of working.
• Undertakes regular 1‑to‑1 catch‑ups and implements training.

Core Competencies

• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Leading and Supervising
• Relating and Networking
• Persuading and Influencing
• Presenting and Communicating Information
• Analysing
• Creating and Innovating
• Delivering Results and Meeting Customer Expectations
• Coping with Pressures and Setbacks

Skills and Experience

• Lead and support team providing guidance and direction.
• Analytical, data driven and highly numerate.
• Keen eye for detail and ability to accurately enter and check data.
• Strategic approach and long‑term thinking.
• Independent decision maker able to justify all decisions.
• Critical thinker supporting commercial decisions and solutions.
• Confident communicator able to build and maintain relationships at all levels.
• Owns work and uses initiative to deliver key responsibilities.
• Strong teamwork skills and collaboration.
• Positive, flexible and responsive to business needs.
• Curious with a continuous learning mindset.
• Strong knowledge of Excel.

Training Requirements

• GUI Shogun
• Advanced Excel
• Strong trade knowledge
• Product mix and sign‑off pack creation and meeting attendance
• Historical analysis packs
• Size ratios – ratio tool
• Size mapping
• Planner (Planogram)
• Range Plan
• Central brand matrix
• Key event trading plans
• Purchase order creation process – PO upload
• Intake management
• Manage trade actions
• Weekly divisional price changes and markdown proposals

1‑to‑1 training is on‑the‑job shadowing supported by online resources.

Benefits

Ample staff discount across JD Group brands, personal development opportunities and a supportive culture.

Additional Information

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
Employment type: Full‑time
Job function: Marketing and Sales
Industry: Retail