At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the merchandising and buying strategy for SKIMS across EMEA channels.
- Company: Join SKIMS, a pioneering brand redefining modern apparel with a focus on innovation and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, and wellness perks.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative culture that values creativity and operational excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while shaping the future of fashion.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in merchandising or buying within premium brands; strong analytical and leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 81000 - 99000 £ per year.
SKIMS is a solutions-oriented brand creating the next generation of underwear, loungewear, shapewear, and essentials. We are setting new standards by delivering technically innovative, comfort-driven products with elevated design for everybody. At the intersection of culture, innovation, and commerce, SKIMS is a global brand redefining modern apparel. Our teams are built on creativity, collaboration, and operational excellence, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive, high-performance environment where ambitious, curious, and values-driven individuals can do the best work of their careers. As we continue to scale globally, our HQ teams play a critical role in shaping strategy, building world-class infrastructure, and driving sustainable growth across markets.
Position Summary
The Director of Merchandising & Buying, EMEA will lead the regional merchandising and buying strategy across all EMEA channels, including Owned Retail, Wholesale, and Franchise. This role is responsible for developing localized assortments, driving commercial performance, and ensuring every customer experiences the very best of SKIMS, regardless of channel or market. Acting as the commercial voice of the region, this leader will balance global brand strategy with regional customer insights, partnering closely with Global Merchandising, Planning, Product, Retail, Wholesale, Franchise, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Finance teams to optimize product assortment, inventory investments, and seasonal strategies. The ideal candidate is both strategic and hands-on, with deep expertise in international merchandising, strong commercial instincts, and experience scaling premium global brands across multiple distribution channels.
Key Responsibilities
- Delivering Against the EMEA Marketplace & Commercial Strategy
- Own and execute the merchandising and buying strategy for the EMEA marketplace across Owned Retail, Wholesale, and Franchise.
- Translate global brand and product strategies into a clear EMEA commercial strategy that reflects regional customer needs, market dynamics, and growth priorities.
- Partner with EMEA leadership to establish seasonal and annual commercial objectives, identifying the product and assortment strategies required to deliver against them.
- Identify marketplace opportunities, product gaps, emerging consumer trends, and commercial risks to maximize revenue, margin, and long-term growth.
- Use regional, market, and channel performance to continually evolve the EMEA merchandising strategy.
- Serve as the regional product and commercial expert, providing clear recommendations to EMEA and Global leadership.
- Buying, Assortment & Product Localization
- Own seasonal buying and assortment decisions across the EMEA marketplace.
- Build localized assortments informed by customer demand, climate, cultural considerations, market maturity, channel needs, and commercial opportunity.
- Determine the appropriate category mix, breadth, depth, size curves, and inventory investment by market and channel.
- Ensure assortments maintain the integrity of the global SKIMS product vision while maximizing relevance and commercial opportunity within EMEA.
- Partner closely with Planning to establish seasonal buys and inventory investments aligned with sales, margin, and productivity targets.
- Ensure global product launches are appropriately bought and commercialized for EMEA markets.
- In-Season Trading & Inventory Management
- Own the regional merchandising response to in-season performance, partnering closely with Planning to maximize sales, margin, sell-through, and inventory productivity.
- Monitor performance across markets, channels, categories, and key product franchises, identifying risks and opportunities early.
- Recommend and execute assortment, inventory, replenishment, and allocation actions based on trading performance.
- Partner with Planning on forecasting, replenishment, inventory transfers, and seasonal inventory strategies.
- Inform regional markdown, promotional, and exit strategies where appropriate.
- Maintain a clear view of inventory health across the EMEA marketplace and ensure inventory supports both global launches and regional commercial priorities.
- Channel & Account Merchandising
- Develop differentiated merchandising strategies across Owned Retail, Wholesale, and Franchise while ensuring a consistent SKIMS brand and product experience.
- Owned Retail: Build assortments that maximize productivity across flagship stores, boutiques, and future retail locations, using store-level performance and customer insights to inform decisions.
- Wholesale: Partner with Wholesale teams and key accounts on seasonal buys, assortment architecture, product presentations, and account-specific commercial opportunities.
- Franchise: Develop merchandising frameworks and assortments that protect the SKIMS brand while responding appropriately to local customer and market needs.
- Analyze performance by channel and account to identify opportunities for growth, assortment optimization, and improved productivity.
- Ensure channel strategies complement one another and support the overall EMEA marketplace strategy.
- Market Expansion, Launch Buying & Localized Pricing Strategy
- Lead the merchandising and buying strategy for SKIMS expansion into new EMEA markets.
- Develop localized launch assortments and inventory strategies based on market potential, customer profile, climate, channel mix, and expected demand.
- Partner with Retail, Wholesale, Franchise, Planning, Finance, and regional leadership to establish commercially appropriate launch plans.
- Provide regional input into pricing architecture, considering local market dynamics, competitive positioning, customer expectations, currency, duties, and margin requirements.
- Evaluate early trading performance in new markets and rapidly adjust assortments and inventory strategies based on customer response.
- Build scalable merchandising frameworks that support continued expansion across Europe and the Middle East.
- Global Product Influence
- Act as the voice of the EMEA customer and marketplace within global merchandising and product conversations.
- Provide Global Merchandising and Product teams with actionable insights on regional customer behavior, product performance, market trends, competitive activity, and assortment opportunities.
- Identify regional product gaps and opportunities that could unlock incremental growth within EMEA.
- Influence future product development, seasonal assortment architecture, size strategies, and launch priorities through data-backed regional recommendations.
- Partner collaboratively with Global teams, recognizing global ownership of the overarching product strategy while ensuring EMEA marketplace needs are clearly represented.
- Create a strong feedback loop between EMEA marketplace performance and Global product decision-making.
- Team Leadership & Merchant Capability
- Build, lead, and develop a high-performing EMEA merchandising and buying organization.
- Establish clear accountability, ways of working, and decision-making frameworks across the regional merchandising function.
- Develop strong merchant capability across product knowledge, commercial acumen, customer insight, analytics, and in-season trading.
- Coach and mentor the team to balance strong product instincts with rigorous, data-led decision-making.
- Build scalable processes, tools, and operating rhythms that support the continued growth of the EMEA business.
- Foster a collaborative culture and strong partnership across EMEA and Global functions.
- Develop future merchandising leadership capability and succession within the team.
- Champion operational excellence, commercial accountability, and continuous improvement across the function.
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Fashion, Retail Management, or a related discipline.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in Merchandising, Buying, or Commercial leadership within premium fashion or lifestyle brands.
- Significant experience operating across multiple international markets, preferably within EMEA.
- Proven experience supporting Retail, Wholesale, and Franchise business models.
- Strong understanding of regional consumer behavior, assortment localization, and international merchandising strategies.
- Demonstrated success driving commercial growth across omnichannel environments.
- Advanced analytical skills with expertise in assortment planning, inventory management, forecasting, and financial analysis.
- Experience working closely with global headquarters while representing regional business needs.
- Strong executive presence with exceptional communication and influencing skills.
- Advanced proficiency in Excel and merchandising/planning systems such as Anaplan, SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar platforms.
- A commercially driven leader who combines strong analytical thinking with exceptional product instincts.
- Deep understanding of the EMEA retail landscape and evolving consumer trends.
- Strategic thinker who can translate regional insights into actionable business strategies.
- Comfortable balancing global brand consistency with local market relevance.
- Highly collaborative with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders across multiple regions and time zones.
- Entrepreneurial, adaptable, and energized by building within a high-growth, fast-paced environment.
- Customer-obsessed and passionate about delivering exceptional product experiences.
- Hands-on leader who enjoys working both strategically and operationally.
- Embodies the SKIMS Standard by leading with curiosity, innovation, ownership, collaboration, and a relentless commitment to excellence.
- Private Medical Insurance (PMI)
- Group Life Assurance
- Income Protection
- Critical Illness
- Pension Scheme
- Modern Health
- ClassPass
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
What We're Looking For
Benefits, Culture and Perks
Director of Merchandising and Buying, EMEA in London employer: SKIMS
At SKIMS, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions creativity and personal growth in the heart of London. Our vibrant work culture fosters collaboration and inclusivity, ensuring every team member feels valued and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. With competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and a commitment to employee development, joining us as an Assistant Store Leader in Visual Merchandising means becoming part of a dynamic team dedicated to elevating customer experiences and driving impactful results.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Merchandising and Buying, EMEA in London
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like SKIMS, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like SKIMS!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Merchandising and Buying, EMEA in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at SKIMS, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at SKIMS and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show SKIMS that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at SKIMS
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
