Head of Merchandising - Prestigious Fashion Brand

Mode Search is supporting a prestigious Fashion Brand in the search for a Head of Merchandising for the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions. This strategic leadership role will drive the end-to-end merchandising vision across all channels, ensuring commercial success through curated assortments, data-led decision making, and a deep understanding of the luxury consumer. The role is based in London, operating on a hybrid model. The Head of Merchandising reports into the Regional Director.

The Role

• Define and lead the merchandising strategy for the UK, Ireland, and Nordics, encompassing both physical retail and e-commerce.
• Oversee seasonal and in-season assortment planning, tailoring ranges to local trends, store profiles, and customer behaviour.
• Partner with Buying, Planning, and Retail teams to align commercial goals and deliver strong sales performance.
• Own category-level performance planning, working closely with Finance and Senior Leadership on budgets, forecasts, and sales targets.
• Lead end-to-end launch planning for key collections and new category initiatives, ensuring full 360° execution across channels.
• Leverage performance analytics, store feedback, and competitor insights to drive trading decisions and assortment evolution.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain to manage stock flow, optimize sell-through, and address replenishment and rebalancing needs.
• Provide regular reporting and business reviews to senior stakeholders, blending quantitative analysis with strategic recommendations.
• Support new store openings and refurbishments with tailored merchandising plans based on market data, location potential, and competitor landscape.

Requirements

• 7–10 years of experience in merchandising leadership roles, preferably within department stores or luxury retail environments.
• Strong track record in building commercially effective assortments across multi-brand, multi-location retail operations.
• Strong background in accessories, fine jewellery, and/or demi-fine jewellery is highly desirable.
• Proficient in data analysis and performance reporting, with advanced Excel skills.
• Strong understanding of financial metrics, planning cycles, and commercial forecasting.
• Excellent communicator with proven experience influencing senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Commercially sharp with a refined understanding of the luxury consumer and department store dynamics.
• Agile, hands-on leader with the ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution.
• Confident managing multiple priorities across regions in a fast-paced, evolving retail landscape.

Please note that due to the high number of applications we are currently receiving we are unfortunately not able to provide individual feedback to every candidate at this stage of the process. If your application is successful, you will be contacted by us in due course. You can also email your resume directly to us at info@modesearch.co.uk if you would like to apply.