At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive commercial performance and lead merchandising strategies across the business.
- Company: Join a leading luxury fashion brand with a dynamic and collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, creative environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Work with cross-functional teams to shape the future of the brand.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of fashion merchandising and make impactful decisions.
- Qualifications: Experience in merchandising within luxury fashion and strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 66150 - 80850 £ per year.
The Head of Merchandising is responsible for driving commercial performance across the business, with ownership of in-season trade, financial planning, margin and inventory. Working closely with the Head of Buying, the role connects collection strategy with commercial performance, using product, client and trading insight to inform immediate actions and future investment. This is a highly visible, cross-functional role and the commercial hub of the business. The successful candidate will combine exceptional merchandising and planning skills with a relentless trade mindset, strong product instinct and creative commercial thinking. They will bring energy and pace, turning data into smart decisions and aligning teams around clear commercial priorities.
Key Responsibilities
- Trade & Commercial Performance: Lead the weekly trading process, identifying opportunities and risks across product, category, channel and market. Translate sales, sell-through, margin and inventory performance into clear commercial actions. Look beyond the numbers to understand what is driving performance and determine what the business should do next. Think proactively and creatively to maximise opportunities, strengthen underperformance and unlock additional sales. Continually reforecast and recommend changes to investment, replenishment, allocation and intake based on trade. Provide clear, forward-looking commercial insight and recommendations to senior leadership. Listen, influence and challenge effectively, building strong relationships while ensuring decisions translate into action.
- Planning, Inventory & Profitability: Partner with the Head of Buying to develop seasonal and annual merchandise plans aligned with collection strategy and business objectives. Own financial planning and forecasting across sales, margin, inventory, intake and Open-to-Buy. Use trade, historical performance and client insight to inform category plans, buy depth and future investment. Own inventory productivity, sell-through and Weeks of Supply across channels and markets, identifying opportunities and risks early. Manage replenishment and continuity strategies for core and proven products. Partner with Production and Logistics to align intake and inventory with current and forecast demand. Identify opportunities to grow key products, categories, channels and markets through considered investment. Understand the drivers of profitability across product, category, channel and market, partnering with Finance and Production to identify margin opportunities and risks. Ensure sales, margin and inventory are considered together in all commercial and investment decisions.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Act as the commercial hub of the business, aligning Retail, E-commerce, Wholesale, Marketing, Finance, Production and Logistics around trading priorities. Lead and motivate cross-functional teams, creating energy and momentum around product and commercial opportunities. Communicate strategies clearly, ensuring teams understand the priorities, actions and commercial rationale. Bring together data, product insight and client feedback to drive better commercial decisions.
Experience & Capabilities:
- Significant merchandising or merchandise planning experience within luxury fashion, leather goods or accessories.
- Exceptional trade mindset with strong commercial and product instinct.
- Strong financial planning, forecasting, Open-to-Buy, margin and inventory management skills.
- Highly analytical, with the ability to turn complex performance data into clear actions.
- Creative and entrepreneurial, able to think beyond the numbers and identify new commercial opportunities.
- Outstanding communicator and cross-functional leader who can listen, influence, challenge and motivate.
- Highly collaborative, engaging and decisive, with the energy and pace to drive action across the business.
- Able to balance immediate commercial opportunity with long-term growth and brand integrity.
Head of Merchandising employer: Métier
Métier is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and ambitious work culture, perfect for those looking to thrive in the luxury fashion industry. With a focus on employee growth and development, team members are encouraged to take on diverse responsibilities and gain invaluable insights into the workings of a fast-growing brand. Located in London, our small yet dynamic team offers a unique opportunity to be part of a global vision while enjoying the benefits of working in a creative and supportive environment.
