Senior Merchandiser

Job description / Role

Overview of the role

Senior Merchandiser is responsible for driving sales and cash margin of the BU and is accountable for achieving the key business KPI’s of sales, cash margin, markdown cost and closing stock. He/she manages space and OTB planning plus product selection, is responsible for direct report management and supporting the lead category manager with team development. He/she will develop cross-functional relationships and run the day to day communication with the principal brand.

What you will do

Description of accountability:

Business plan and delivery of key KPI’s

• Conduct PIR and analyse sales to develop annual business plan
• Support lead category manager in developing BU strategy
• Identify business opportunities to increase sales and margin
• Cash margin
• Detailed knowledge of BU, markets operated in and key competitors
• Manage BU WSSI

Sales and OTB planning

• Plan appropriate sales and cash margin by range, category and line
• Plan appropriate sales and cash margin by store and region
• Plan appropriate space for each department/range in each store
• Plan appropriate OTB and options by department/range
• Cut OTB: core vs fashion
• Plan appropriate e-commerce buy

Range detail planning

• Management of core template to drive core availability
• Size cut strategy by department/market
• Appropriate good/better/best offer through price analysis
• Sufficient volume on key OPP’s
• Appropriate colour balance through robust analysis and action
• Authoritative product statements on hero product

Product selection

• Detailed preparation for UK buying fairs
• Appropriate and timely liaison with UK
• Clear IBO strategy
• Confident product selection and range balancing
• Sign off every catalogue and continuous review with trading
• Opportunity buys to support marketing strategy
• Spend control
• Margin optimization

Trade

• Weekly team meeting and actions
• Weekly store communication (GM action news)
• Define and manage allocation blueprint
• Define and manage replenishment strategy by type of product/market
• Implement robust promotional calendar
• Ensure opening price points well executed and messaged in-store
• Effective markdown management

Market awareness

• Conduct seasonal comp shops
• Report on key actions to remain price competitive
• Report on key missed opportunities
• Actively champion agreed stores and organise SWOT and visit programme
• Engage in market visits
• Understand and engage with swiftly changing market conditions
• Embrace digital transition with clear understanding of customer journey

Stakeholder engagement

• Build good relationships with merchandising colleagues within M&S
• Build strong relationships with M&S operations team, VM team and marketing team
• Build solid working relationships with UK

Leading people

• Work to SMART objectives, understand strategic direction of travel and communicate tirelessly
• Provide coaching for development and ensure succession within the team working with HRBP on talent management
• Role model Al-Futtaim Way behaviours and M&S values

Required skills to be successful

• Passion and product knowledge and love of M&S brand and heritage
• A confident manager
• Able to handle complexity
• Excellent planning and organizing skills
• Attention to detail
• Highly numerate
• Product confident
• Good communicator
• Collaborative style
• Optimistic attitude
• Works at pace with an impatience to get things done
• Strong track record of people management
• Cultural awareness
• Kids wear with Middle East experience preferred
• Good working knowledge of Excel and key Microsoft applications
• Knowledge of SAP an additional advantage

What equips you for the role

• Bachelor’s degree in commerce or equivalent
• Minimum 8 years’ experience in fashion buying and merchandising
• Education to degree level or equivalent
• Experience within a retail buying environment in MENA and/or Europe and experience of UK/European brands

Candidate experience

We’re here to provide excellent service but a little help from you can ensure a five-star candidate experience from start to finish.

Before you click “apply”: please read the job description carefully to ensure you can confidently demonstrate why this opportunity is right for you and take the time to put together a well-crafted and personalised CV to further boost your visibility. Our global talent acquisition team members are all assigned to specific businesses to ensure that we make the best matches between talent and opportunities. We not only consider the requisite compatibility of skills and behaviours, but also how candidates align with our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, and excellence.

As part of our candidate experience promise, we also want to make ourselves available to you throughout the application process. We make every effort to review and respond to every application.

About the Company

Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.

The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.

The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.