At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead brand strategy and manage buying and merchandising for a dynamic fashion division.
- Company: Join ASOS, a global online retailer passionate about fashion and creativity.
- Benefits: Enjoy employee discounts, private medical care, and 25 days of annual leave.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for personal growth and development.
- Why this job: Shape the future of fashion while working with top brands and talented teams.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in multi-brand retail and strong strategic thinking skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Reporting to the Partner Brands & Marketplace Director, the Head of Category owns a segment of brands within the division and is responsible for managing the buying, merchandising and strategy of this subdivision. They are accountable for successful sales & profit performance with disciplined stock health and interfacing with several cross divisional and cross functional stakeholders. They are responsible for managing not only the business in this area, but the relationships with the brand partners and ensuring ASOS has the best in class curated assortments from the right brands.
Responsibilities
- Responsible for creating and delivering the brand/category strategy aligned to overarching Product & Brand global strategy.
- Leads direction of product strategy through brand relevancy - distribution, geo, customer segments.
- Responsible for creating & cascading range architecture framework across initial price, width and depth.
- Responsible for the financial success and health of the division, trading and managing stock, partner terms, managing OTB and budgets.
- Optimising data & insights to anticipate future needs of ASOS consumer and identifying future category growth opportunities.
- Working alongside leaders in the Global team to support global requirements and understand brand/category level global planning, pricing, trading and local brand opportunities.
- Shaping and driving lean, agile processes and ways of working for departments.
Product
- Responsible for leading teams in First to Market product execution across segments, trend, key items, seasonal big deals, brand identity and relevancy.
- Customer focused; anticipating the needs of the target consumer, using sales data, customer profile analytics and trend information.
- Keeping brand purpose and Fashion With Integrity at the forefront of decision making whilst commercially balancing profit targets against ethical and sustainable priorities.
- Alongside Responsible Sourcing, responsible for delivering ethical, efficient & responsive brand strategy.
- Instil in the departments a strong understanding of global competitors' product offer, pricing strategy and trading activity leveraging insights to pivot team activity and manage risks.
- Brand relevancy through distribution and GEO requirements (additional channel of DTC).
Brand Planning & Trading
- Responsible for translating top down budgets into category/sub-category and brand plans.
- Accountable for brand sales & profit performance.
- Accountable for delivering on all range KPIs; ASP, Width & Depth and Intake Margin.
- Responsible for ensuring appropriate stock levels are met, aligned to customer demand, within the parameters set by the business.
- Maintaining an in-depth knowledge of brand KPIs throughout the season, continually challenging and redefining to ensure maximum profit.
- Consistently using data & analytics to trade risks & opportunities and proactively shape the future category strategy.
- Responsible for reviewing weekly brand sales, stock and intake gap analysis, directing category merchandisers as necessary.
- Strategically optimising intake margin and profit through identifying efficiencies & cost saving initiatives, including product engineering.
- Accountable for signing off sales, stock and OTB/intake plans with brand/subcategory teams.
- Working alongside cross-functional teams to define sales, stock & intake plans (OTB) for product groups.
- Improve terms through using all levers available - Buying discount, intake margin, rebates & other commercial opportunities through AMG.
Managing & Leading
- Leads the Buying & Merchandising teams in creating the global assortment that meets ASOS' mission.
- Leading and building a strong team with a focus on growing future talent.
- Providing clear direction and development to the team, identifying individual training needs and encouraging collaborative ways of working.
- Motivating and engaging the team through recognition and regular feedback.
- Leading and driving business wide initiatives and projects, positively influencing and championing change.
Cross Functional Working
- Building and leveraging relationships with a network of appropriate internal and external stakeholders to deliver and evolve strategy.
- A confident, experienced leader in the multi-brand fashion retail space, who will take ownership of the category and lead the strategy.
- Collaborative, organised, and strategic with your finger on the pulse of fashion - always looking to push the range for our global markets forward.
- Demonstrates the ability to drive the success of multiple departments through strategic, creative and commercial thinking.
- Has expert negotiation and influencing skills.
- Embraces and champions the benefits of change within the wider team.
- Presents performance and strategy to the team and management with an engaging and confident style.
- Shows a deep understanding of the ASOS customer and customer segmentation and reflects this in decision making.
- Has an effective and inclusive management style, role modelling positive behaviours and providing the team with clear direction and development.
- Identifies opportunities or challenges within the assortment and identifies new category opportunities.
- Makes quick and effective trading decisions between buying groups to pursue profitable growth.
- Commercial Acumen to manage OTB and make trade-offs between sub-category priorities.
- Creativity to drive category and brand offer and product opportunities based on insight.
- Technical knowledge to oversee, manage and challenge brand and category decisions.
- Expertise to agree the range width and depth.
- Strategic thinking and vision to set the category / product strategy.
- Leadership and ability to challenge & influence other stakeholders to optimise category performance.
We're ASOS, the online retailer for fashion lovers all around the world. We exist to give our customers the confidence to be whoever they want to be, and that goes for our people too. At ASOS, you're free to be your true self without judgement, and channel your creativity into a platform used by millions. Everyone needs some help showing up as their best self. We're Disability Confident Committed - let our Talent team know if you need any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. We believe being together in person helps us move faster, connect more deeply, and achieve more as a team. That’s why our approach to working together includes spending at least 3 days a week in the office. Its a rhythm that speeds up decision-making, helps ASOSers learn from each other more quickly, and builds the kind of culture where people can grow, create, and succeed.
Benefits
- Employee discount (hello ASOS discount!).
- Employee sample sales.
- 25 days paid annual leave + an extra celebration day for a special moment.
- Private medical care scheme.
- Discretionary bonus scheme.
- Opportunity for personalised learning and in-the-moment experiences that enable you to thrive and excel in your role.
Head of Partner Brands employer: We're Asos
ASOS is an exceptional employer that champions creativity and individuality, allowing employees to express their true selves while contributing to a dynamic online fashion platform. With a strong focus on employee growth, ASOS offers personalised learning opportunities, generous benefits including a substantial discount, private medical care, and a collaborative work culture that encourages teamwork and innovation. Located in a vibrant environment, the company fosters a supportive atmosphere where every team member can thrive and make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Partner Brands
✨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 We're Asos, 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 We're Asos!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Partner Brands
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 We're Asos, 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 We're Asos 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 We're Asos that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at We're Asos
✨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!
