At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product strategy and inventory management for a major UK retailer.
- Company: Join a leading multi-category retailer transforming its product-led approach.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and leadership opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on commercial outcomes and supply chain efficiency.
- Qualifications: Experience in merchandising, planning, or supply chain with strong leadership skills.
- Other info: 12-month fixed-term contract with significant career growth potential.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
A major UK multi-category retailer, operating at scale across stores, online and a complex supply chain. The organisation is continuing its shift towards product-led ways of working, applying product discipline not only to digital channels but to core commercial and operational capabilities, including planning, merchandising and inventory management. This role sits at the heart of that evolution, with real accountability for commercial outcomes, stock efficiency and availability across multiple categories.
This is a senior, commercially accountable leadership role, owning the end-to-end planning, assortment and inventory lifecycle across a multi-category retail portfolio, offered on a 12 month Fixed Term Contract. Despite the title, this is not a pure digital discovery or UX-led product role. The focus is on applying product leadership and portfolio ownership to planning and supply-chain domains, ensuring the right product is ranged, planned, flowed and available at the right cost and margin.
Key responsibilities include:
- Owning end-to-end planning and inventory outcomes across a multi-category retail estate
- Leading assortment strategy, merchandise planning and stock flow across categories
- Being accountable for availability, sell-through, stock efficiency and markdown risk
- Managing inventory flow from planning through to distribution centres and onward to stores
- Working closely with logistics and operations to balance availability, efficiency and cost
- Leading a portfolio of planning and supply-chain product domains, such as:
- Assortment and range planning
- Merchandise planning
- Inventory management, allocation and replenishment
- Forecasting and demand planning
Success in the role is measured through commercial and operational outcomes, not delivery milestones alone.
The Person
This role suits a senior, commercially minded leader with deep roots in merchandising, planning or supply chain, who has adopted product ways of working to run complex commercial domains within retail or consumer businesses. Given the 12 month FTC nature of the role, the ideal candidate will be:
- Comfortable stepping into a senior role quickly and operating with pace
- Experienced in taking ownership of complex planning and inventory environments with minimal ramp-up
- Pragmatic, outcomes-led and able to influence at senior level from day one
They will also bring:
- Significant experience in merchandise planning, commercial planning, inventory or supply chain
- Proven ownership of end-to-end planning and inventory lifecycles
- Strong understanding of assortment strategy, stock flow, allocation and replenishment
- Experience making trade-offs impacting availability, margin, cost and operational risk
- Leadership experience at manager-of-managers level
- Credibility with senior commercial, supply chain and operational stakeholders
- Exposure to applying product management disciplines to planning, supply-chain or commercial capability
Candidates from purely digital CX, front-end product or technology-led backgrounds are unlikely to be successful unless they have direct commercial and inventory accountability.
Senior Head of Product in City of London employer: WeComm
Contact Detail:
WeComm Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Head of Product in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the retail and supply chain sectors. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by diving deep into the company’s product strategy. Understand their assortment and inventory management processes. This will help you speak their language and show that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! When discussing your experience, highlight how you've led teams and influenced senior stakeholders. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to drive commercial outcomes and manage complex planning environments.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Head of Product in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Senior Head of Product role. Highlight your experience in merchandising, planning, and supply chain management to show us you’re the right fit.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about product leadership and how your background makes you the perfect candidate for this role. Keep it engaging and relevant!
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to manage complex planning and inventory environments. Numbers and outcomes speak volumes, so don’t hold back!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at WeComm
✨Know Your Numbers
Make sure you’re familiar with key metrics related to inventory management, stock efficiency, and availability. Be ready to discuss how you've influenced these metrics in your previous roles, as this will show your commercial acumen and understanding of the retail landscape.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in managing teams of product managers. Discuss how you’ve successfully led teams through complex planning and inventory challenges, and how you foster collaboration between departments like logistics and operations.
✨Understand the Business Model
Research the retailer’s business model and their approach to product-led strategies. Be prepared to discuss how you can apply product management principles to enhance their planning and supply chain processes, demonstrating your alignment with their goals.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Anticipate scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-world situations. Think about past experiences where you had to make trade-offs affecting availability, margin, or operational risk, and be ready to explain your thought process and outcomes.