Senior Merchandiser / Merchandiser

The Merchandising team at River Island plays a key role in realising the commercial opportunities created by our unique product across all channels. This is achieved by developing and implementing the multichannel planning and trading strategy for a high turnover, multiproduct department. The Senior Merchandiser has direct impact on the product offer by channel to fulfil all customer requirements and deliver the department strategy, sales and profit plans.

Working closely with buying counterparts, the Senior Merchandiser ensures that department margin targets are achieved and grows market share while maintaining our sustainability commitments. A River Island Senior Merchandiser must support their MM/HOM and successfully drive the performance of the merchandising team, acting as a role model for effective merchandising skills, knowledge and behaviours, and playing an active role in supporting the delivery of potential cross‑divisional opportunities.

Department & Location
Menswear Head Office, Chelsea House, West London

Key Accountabilities

• Develop the department and category strategy for a high turnover, multiproduct area
• Grow sales and profit through successful planning and trading across all channels
• Analyse current and past performance alongside market data, formulating opportunities to drive the business across all channels
• Create a forward strategy with the Buyer to deliver company brand briefs and operating plans
• Propose adjustments to immediate and longer‑term financial plans, OTB and on order to optimise margin and sales, driving the trading performance of the department by channel
• Deliver an option framework to ensure a balanced range by channel
• Adeptly control stocks within planned levels and work within agreed markdown targets
• Account for commitment review by size, maximising sales through availability
• Plan sourcing strategies that reduce costs and grow margin with consideration of all external factors, incorporating an understanding of sustainable practices in sourcing and production to support the buying team in delivering on our sustainability commitments
• Exceptional management of the department critical path with the buyer to ensure timely delivery of product
• Plan and deliver the distribution strategy of stock to all channels
• Identify all wholesale opportunities and look for all opportunities to drive performance
• Using all available sources, including regular store visits, industry news, sales and margin history, comp shops, identify risks and opportunities, proposing actions to positively impact performance
• Build and nurture strong cross‑divisional working relationships and external networks to develop a broad perspective and identify future opportunities
• Challenge all company working practices where appropriate to improve ways of working and undertake company projects to support new initiatives
• Alongside the Buyer, propose initiatives and act on opportunities to drive sales and margin, including new product trial strategies
• Grow talent within the merchandising team and identify readiness for the next role, providing learning opportunities, coaching and mentoring in a timely way to enable everyone to realise their individual potential
• Manage a team effectively, up to and including Junior Merchandiser, setting direction and objectives to be achieved for the department, ensuring the team is aligned and working towards those objectives, and driving for a high‑performance team.
• Provide timely feedback and support to enable each person to work to the best of their abilities, and provide opportunities for learning and stretch as appropriate within the team

Key Experience Required

• Previous experience as a Senior Merchandiser or established Merchandiser
• Experience in an omni‑channel business is highly desirable
• Track record of delivering and exceeding sales and margin targets
• Track record of identifying and delivering on new product opportunities
• Track record of driving strong team and individual performance and engagement

Job Role Competencies

• Excellent verbal and numerical reasoning skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Advanced analytical skills
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
• Skilled at presenting new ideas, flexing style and approach to gain buy‑in
• Strong people management and development skills
• Strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and self‑management
• Highly organised, good prioritisation skills
• Builds strong genuine relationships with peers, highly collaborative
• Excellent coaching and mentoring skills
• Disciplined and conscientious, results‑oriented
• Tenacious, resilient and adaptable to change
• Change advocate with a curious, continuous learning mindset
• Forward‑thinking, innovative
• Passion for the RI brand and customer

Equal Opportunity and Safeguarding
At River Island 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. We are committed to safeguarding and are dedicated to the safeguarding of all employees regardless of age or job role. We fulfil our obligation under the Prevent duty, promote British Values and encourage the belief in democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.