Assistant Product Manager

The Assistant Product Manager will support the Wholesale Product Manager and Partner facing Merchandisers, responsible for aiding the Product Manager with the sell-in and presentation of ranges in line with the River Island brand and partner strategy. They are expected to be a Product expert for their division, acting as a key source of knowledge for both internal B&M teams and Partners. They will support the Wholesale Product Manager in all aspects of trading and selling, from pre-season buys to in-season trade, regularly reviewing potential risk and opportunity.

They will work with Wholesale Partners and Wholesale counterparts to deliver the buying and merchandising plan against key KPI’s agreed with the Wholesale Product Manager and Account Lead. They will build strong internal working relationships with their counterparts, namely Wholesale Assistant Merchandisers and internal divisional Assistant Buyers. A River Island Assistant Product Manager must manage the Product team’s day-to-day activities and oversee the workload and development of the Wholesale Product Admin Assistants.

What We Are Looking For

• Supports the Wholesale Product Manager in all aspects of their role, aiding the overall Wholesale strategy whilst aligning to Partner’s specific strategies, collaborating with key counterparts in delivery.
• Product expert for their division, possessing a solid understanding of Product critical paths, lead times, production and the manufacture of goods.
• A daily point of contact for internal B&M teams.
• Owns the day-to-day running of the B2B platform/ Virtual Showroom (NuOrder) for the division and drives forward the business ways of working to deliver from partner orders through to delivery.
• Works closely with the Wholesale Merchandising team and Account Leads to deliver a highly commercial and well-balanced range for the division that supports delivery of the divisional and partner strategy and ultimately the financial delivery of the Wholesale plan and Margin Target.
• Attends B&M commercial sign off meetings where applicable and ensures Wholesale’s requirements are considered.
• Responsible for managing Wholesale’s product critical path, diarising range handovers with B&M, Partner selection appointments and required feedback sessions with B&M and Account Leads/ Merchandisers.
• Manages the physical Wholesale showroom for in-person appointments, ensuring the product ranges are professionally displayed.
• Acts as a face of the brand to Partners; supporting the Product Manager by presenting and guiding the Partners in selection meetings, ensuring the brand’s DNA and product strategy is delivered.
• Supports in forming and delivering the planning and trading strategy for the division. Analyses trading patterns and trend reactions in season, ensuring insight is shared with B&M and opportunities are potentialised.
• Works with the Product Manager to filter in key messages inline with the divisional critical path, channelling growth and range development.
• Accountable for the management of Product Admin Assistants, setting the direction and objectives in line with the wider Product team’s strategy, ensuring the team is aligned and working towards those objectives, and providing timely feedback and support to enable each person to work to the best of their abilities.
• Challenges all company working practices where appropriate to improve ways of working.
• Foster and enable a culture of wellbeing and inclusion through openness, two-way listening and owning actions needed to create a great workplace for our Islanders.

Key experience required

• Previous experience at an entry or mid-level role in product/buying/wholesale product.
• Experience in an omni-channel business is highly desirable.
• Proven results in formulating relationships.
• Track record of presenting and delivering against KPIs.
• Track record of driving strong team and individual performance and engagement.
• Previous experience with NuOrder (or a similar B2B platform) preferred but not essential.

Job role competencies

• Passion for the RI brand.
• Displays an in-depth, RI customer-focused knowledge of market and trends.
• Excellent commercial awareness skills.
• Passion for Product, the Fashion industry & latest Trends.
• Strong influencing skills.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, emotional intelligence and self-management.
• Skilled at presenting new ideas, flexing style and approach to gain buy-in.
• Excellent people management and coaching, mentoring and development skills.
• Highly organised, good prioritisation skills.
• Ability to communicate and align teams to strategy and vision.
• Disciplined and conscientious, results oriented.
• Tenacious, resilient and adaptable to change.
• Change advocate with a curious, continuous learning mindset.
• Forward-thinking, innovative.

About Us

We’re a much-loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions. This is what a career at River Island is like. And this is where yours starts. This role is based at our Head Office in West London.

What we can offer you:

• Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site!
• Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through the Retail Trust.
• A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill your needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the year.
• Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment.
• Flexible working is a given, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.
• Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding.
• Support with upskilling through on the job training and qualifications. A succession plan if you want to progress.
• A generous bonus scheme & private pension plan.
• The choice to opt in for healthcare through our provider AXA.
• 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!

Keeping You Safe

At River Island we are committed to the safeguarding of all of our employees regardless of age or job role. We will fulfil our obligation under the Prevent duty which seeks to stop extremism and extremist views from materialising in our business. We promote and encourage the belief in British Values- including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. Our Island is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.