At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Womens category strategy and drive product innovation in a global sportswear brand.
- Company: Join a leading global sportswear brand with a focus on women's apparel.
- Benefits: Up to £65,000 salary, annual bonus, flexible working, and excellent benefits.
- Other info: Opportunity for significant career development in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of women's sportswear and influence product strategy.
- Qualifications: Experience in product merchandising or category management, with a passion for women's sportswear.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Whats on Offer:
- Up to £65,000 salary
- Annual bonus
- Flexible working
- Excellent benefits package
- Significant career development opportunity
- The chance to shape and grow a strategically important category within a globally recognised sportswear brand
A leading global sportswear brand is looking for an exceptional Product Merchandising Manager to take ownership of its Womens category and play a pivotal role in shaping future growth. This is not a retail merchandising position. Were looking for a commercially-minded product specialist with deep category expertise, a passion for womens sportswear, and a strong understanding of how branded apparel has evolved within the modern consumer landscape.
This is a rare opportunity to join a high-profile brand and influence product strategy, category direction and go-to-market execution across a globally recognised business.
The Opportunity:
As Product Merchandising Manager for Womens, you will sit at the centre of the product creation and go-to-market process, acting as the commercial heartbeat of the category. Youll combine consumer insight, commercial analysis and product strategy to build compelling assortments, influence future product direction and ensure flawless execution across every stage of the product lifecycle. Working cross-functionally with Product, Sales, Marketing, Planning, Design and Development teams, youll ensure the business remains consumer-led, commercially focused and ahead of market trends. This role is ideal for someone looking to take a significant step forward in their merchandising, category management or product management career within a leading branded environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Category & Product Strategy: Own and drive the Womens category strategy across multiple product areas and markets. Develop commercially relevant assortments that balance global consistency with regional and customer requirements. Identify market opportunities, consumer trends and category growth drivers to influence future product direction. Ensure the category remains fresh, relevant and competitive within the evolving womens sportswear market.
- Go-To-Market Leadership: Lead key category milestones throughout the product creation and go-to-market process. Act as the central point of alignment between Product, Planning, Sales and Marketing teams. Ensure launch plans, timelines and product strategies are delivered accurately and on schedule. Drive executional excellence across all category touch points.
- Commercial Performance: Partner with Key Account Managers and Sales Directors to align category strategy and business objectives. Monitor weekly sales performance and rate-of-sale metrics, translating data into actionable recommendations. Deliver seasonal forecasting and demand planning across both inline and consumer ranges. Support pricing, margin and assortment decisions to maximise category profitability and growth.
- Consumer & Market Insights: Maintain a deep understanding of the womens sportswear consumer and competitive landscape. Use market data, trend analysis and consumer insights to guide decision-making. Identify emerging opportunities and translate them into commercial product strategies. Champion the voice of the consumer throughout the business.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Build strong relationships across Product, Design, Development, Planning, Sales, Marketing and Visual Merchandising teams. Influence stakeholders across multiple functions and regions. Ensure clear communication, alignment and accountability throughout the product lifecycle.
About You:
Were looking for a commercially astute category specialist with a passion for womens product and a proven track record within branded apparel. Youll likely come from a sportswear, fashion or lifestyle brand environment and have experience working with major retailers or leading consumer brands.
Essential Experience:
- Significant experience within Product Merchandising, Category Management, Consumer Trading, Product Management or a similar commercial product role.
- Strong background in branded apparel, ideally within sportswear, athleisure or lifestyle categories.
- Deep understanding of the womens category and the evolution of womens consumer behaviour within branded sportswear.
- Experience building assortments, analysing performance and influencing product strategy.
- Advanced commercial and analytical capability with strong numerical skills.
- Experience working cross-functionally within complex, fast-paced organisations.
- Excellent organisational skills and exceptional attention to detail.
Highly Desirable:
- Experience with major branded retailers
- Experience operating within international or global markets.
- Degree-qualified, ideally in a discipline that promotes analytical thinking, problem-solving and strategic decision-making such as Business, Commerce, Economics, Engineering, Architecture or similar.
Personal Attributes:
- Consumer obsessed and passionate about womens product.
- Commercially sharp with strong strategic thinking capability.
- Naturally curious and insight-driven.
- Confident influencing stakeholders at all levels.
- Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail.
- Comfortable operating within a fast-paced, high-visibility environment.
- Proactive, ambitious and eager to make a genuine impact.
If youre passionate about branded apparel, obsessed with the womens category and ready to play a key role in shaping the future of a market-leading brand, wed love to hear from you.
Product Merchandising Manager employer: MindMatch
Selwood Housing is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its employees, offering a supportive team environment where collaboration and knowledge sharing are key. With a commitment to inclusivity and a range of benefits including competitive salaries, flexible working opportunities, and ongoing training, you will not only gain hands-on experience as an Apprentice Electrician but also build a rewarding career in a respected trade within a growing not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing affordable housing in the Southwest.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Merchandising Manager
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like MindMatch!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at MindMatch would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at MindMatch through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Merchandising Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Product Merchandising Manager, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Product Merchandising Manager position at MindMatch. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at MindMatch
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
