Senior Product & Merchandising Manager in Bristol

We’re conscious mavericks – an open, creative community reconnecting people and planet through movement. As we evolve into a global, matrix organisation, we are seeking a Senior Manager of Product & Merchandising to unify how we create, curate and commercialise our ranges. This role sits at the intersection of product creation, merchandising and commercial performance shaping a globally relevant, locally responsive product strategy that delivers both regenerative impact and commercial strength.

Vivobarefoot is a digital-first business. We use AI and technology not as an afterthought but as a core part of how we work from decision-making and insight generation to product development and customer engagement. You will also help define the next chapter of Product & Merchandising at Vivobarefoot by personally applying AI, automation and data tools to how we build ranges, plan stock and surface commercial insight reducing manual effort and increasing the speed and quality of product and buying decisions.

• Global Product Strategy, Creation and Lifecycle
• Responsible for driving data-led decision making through the integration of Merch team data into the product process, to shape the global product vision and range architecture, across the Business Units.
• Implement Merch & Product strategies to align brand, regeneration and commercial goals.
• Work with the Product team to implement market & consumer insights into product creation & direction.
• Balance global consistency with regional nuance.
• Work closely with the Product team to shape seasonal briefs and critical path, as well as channel strategy, to ensure brand targets are met (blended GIM).
• Ensure product integrity across touchpoints.
• Merchandising & Commercial Performance
• Implement & drive merchandising strategy across channels and markets.
• Own and manage forecasting, demand planning and stock strategy.
• Work with the Merch team to drive sell-through, margin and inventory health.
• Manage and report on category P&L performance.
• Use data and analytics to refine decision making on buying & product briefing.
• Matrix Leadership & Cross-Functional Alignment
• Act as first connection point for Merch and Product.
• Collect, centralise and present data to allow for Product and/or Merch decision-making.
• Enable collaboration between global and regional teams.
• Create clear decision frameworks.
• Work with the Director of Product & Merch to manage key forums and milestones.
• Facilitate and drive the work between the Product and Merch teams to drive data-led product and buying decision making.
• Sustainability & Regenerative Innovation
• Embed sustainability into product strategy.
• Champion regenerative product decisions.
• Drive sustainability as a performance lever.

ALL ABOUT YOU

• Experience in product and/or merchandising leadership.
• An active, hands‑on relationship with AI tools not just an openness to them. You’ve genuinely integrated AI into how you work: using it to stress‑test range plans, surface patterns in sell‑through data, accelerate trend and consumer insight synthesis, draft and iterate briefs, or model scenarios that would otherwise eat days of analyst time.
• A builder’s instinct for process you spot where AI can compress a forecasting cycle, sharpen a merchandising decision, or free your team from manual reporting so they can spend more time on judgment and creativity.
• Strong range architecture and commercial delivery.
• Understanding of product development and retail dynamics.
• Balances creativity with commercial rigour.
• Data-driven and analytical.
• Experienced in matrix organisations.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills.
• Passion for sustainability and regenerative business.
• Comfortable at both strategic and operational levels.

Vivobarefoot believes that diversity is the essence of its ecosystem. We encourage diversity of thought and believe that it enables creativity and innovation to flourish. Our mission is to create a fair and equitable workplace where people thrive and are empowered to become their true selves at work. We believe that feedback and fostering collaboration will allow employees to blaze new trails and enjoy every aspect of the Vivobarefoot community. Every opportunity for recruiting a new member of the Vivobarefoot family should be an opportunity for us to introduce fresh perspectives, talent and skills into our community. Therefore, our commitment is to recruit regardless of race, colour, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, mental health illness, disability, marital or parental status, national or social origin, gender identity, age or any other characteristics protected by law. We look forward to walking this barefoot journey with you!