Head of Merchandising

Job Advertisement: Head of Merchandising

Location: Islington, London
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: Competitive, based on experience

Are you ready to take the lead in shaping the future of our client's branding and merchandising strategy? We are on the lookout for an enthusiastic and visionary Head of Merchandising to join our dynamic team in Islington, London. If you have a passion for sports and branded products, and a knack for strategic growth, we want to hear from you.

About the Role
As the Head of Merchandising, you will report directly to the Managing Director and manage their dedicated sports and branded merchandising teams. Your primary goal will be to drive the strategic growth of the business through effective planning, trading direction, and stock management.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a robust product supplier strategy, fostering strong partnerships that maximise profit while managing risks.
• Negotiate supplier terms and maintain effective communication to ensure you're informed about their strengths and potential challenges.
• Create and communicate a clear critical path to ensure timely product delivery each season, guiding your teams to adhere to these timelines.
• Lead the development of Seasonal Strategies and KPIs, focusing on option count, sales, margins, stock levels, and sell-through.
• Oversee the flexibility of stock planning and buying processes to support new store openings and sub-brands.
• Manage range planning and forecasting to meet key KPIs.
• Make informed commercial decisions regarding pricing, shipments, and quantities to achieve target margins.
• Collaborate with Finance to prepare sales and margin forecasts, adjusting trading actions based on live data.
• Manage the Merchandising P&L budget effectively.
• Foster a high-performance culture within your team through coaching, development, and regular feedback.

What We're Looking For:

• Proven experience in sports and branded products.
• Track record of leading and managing large teams.
• Extensive expertise in stock and supplier management.
• Strong grasp of buying & merchandising processes and their interdependencies.
• Technical proficiency in merchandising across various categories and branches.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and implement critical business strategies.

Why Join?

• Be part of a vibrant work environment that fosters creativity and innovation.
• Play a key role in shaping our brand's future.
• Enjoy opportunities for personal and professional development.
• Contribute to a safe and supportive workplace.

Ready to Make an Impact?
If you're excited about leading a passionate team and driving the success of our merchandising strategy, apply now. We can't wait to see how you can contribute to our client's journey and help elevate the brand to new heights.

LHH is an employment consultancy that believes in talent, not labels. It is important to us that we run inclusive recruitment processes to support candidates of all abilities and encourage applicants of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply. LHH is committed to building an inclusive, supportive environment to enable candidates to explore the next steps in their careers. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.