Merchandising Manager

Location

Hybrid: 1-2 days in our Support Centre

Why The Works?

10th Best Big Company to Work For 2024 - 'Best Companies'

We don’t just sell products. We inspire reading, learning, creativity and play.

The Works. It literally means everything. And whatever your story or background, we’re all about unlocking imagination and making creativity accessible to everyone. Whether you’re engaging with customers on the frontline or supporting our colleagues behind the scenes, your impact can be profound and far-reaching.

This is more than toys and books and art supplies. This is about inspiring people to read, learn, create and play. So, with the right passion, it all starts with you.

Become a Merchandising Manager

We’re looking for a Merchandising Manager to join our Merchandising team here at The Works!

Your Mission

• Create and implement a customer driven department strategy in line with the commercial vision agreed with senior stakeholders with clearly defined and measurable initiatives.
• Working within stock budgets to ensure stock is maintained throughout the year at the correct levels, ensuring critical path enables outstanding availability through peak periods i.e. new product range launches, Christmas, promotion periods etc.
• Accountable for order management in line with agreed parameters and critical path, pro actively working with suppliers to gain maximum flexibility.
• Proactively manage inbound and outbound stock flow, understanding the impact on supply, logistics and retail teams and communicating issues where appropriate.
• Drive Departments to ensure sales, stock holding, margin and availability is optimised.
• Manage and review WSSI at Product group level, providing clear exception reporting on sales stock, availability and profit.
• Plan category and range frameworks, presenting product ranges as a cross functional team for sign off, with clear presentation on key metrics for sign off to support the department strategy.
• Review attribute analysis to drive range reviews and promotional analysis providing clear recommendations.
• Lead weekly trading performance meetings to identify issues and opportunities, providing clear actions to maximise profitability, engaging cross functionally for support as required.
• Deliver the sales in line with budget and agreed strategy, proactively managing opportunities and risks.
• Coach and develop the team to potentialise performance.
• Key support to the Head of Merchandising in key business cross functional projects.

Skills/Behaviours That Will Set You Apart

• Strong numerical skills and ability to analyse and interpret data with recommendations
• Demonstrable experience of working in a fast-paced trading environment
• Recent comparable experience, with a proven track record, in either a Merchandise Manager role, or an experienced Senior Merchandiser looking for your next challenge
• Proven ability to lead a high performing team, develop, coach and navigate change
• Demonstrate delivery of results as an individual and as part of a team

Being a great leader 

As a great leader with wonderful people skills, you'll create an environment that's more than just co-workers — it's a team.•Align Goals with Values: Ensure that your team’s goals are clearly connected to the company’s values and purpose. This helps colleagues see the bigger picture and understand how their work contributes to the overall mission.•Clear Communication: Ensure that your team understands the goals, expectations, and their roles. Regularly share updates, encourage open dialogue and have regular check-ins.•Role Model: Lead by example. Demonstrate the behaviours and attitudes you expect from your team, such as punctuality, responsibility, and being a brand ambassador.•Provide Feedback: Offer constructive feedback regularly. Recognise achievements and address areas for improvement in a supportive and continuous growth manner.•Empower Your Team: Delegate tasks and trust your team to handle them. This builds confidence and promotes professional growth.•Conflict Resolution: Address conflicts promptly and fairly. Foster an environment where issues can be discussed openly and resolved amicably.•Empathy: Understand and consider the feelings and perspectives of your team members. This helps in building strong, supportive relationshipsAnd let's not forget about the most important part… your team's well-being and aspirations. You'll be their biggest supporter, cheering them on. You'll have amazing everyday conversations with your team, discussing everything from their performance to their wildest career aspirations.

Our PERKS really are ‘The Works’

• 25% Colleague Discount! - Plus, exclusive Double Discount days!
• MyWorks - Access exclusive online discounts across hundreds of retailers, holidays, utilities deals, tech and more!
• Holiday – 33 days including bank holidays.
• Holiday Purchase - Purchase an additional 5 days
• Can-Do Academy - Grow your skills and career with instant access to further training and development in areas that interest you.
• Wagestream - Claim early access to 50% of your wages as you earn them – for when ‘life’ happens!
• Share Scheme - Unleash your inner Monopoly mogul and own a piece of The Works!
• 24/7 support for you and your family - Through our partnership with the Retail Trust who provide an Employee Assistance Programme and so much more!
• Healthcare Cash Plan – To support your everyday healthcare costs
• And loads more! – Long Service Awards, pension, life assurance, Cycle to Work and optional charity giving.

Our Purpose

To inspire reading. learning, creativity and play - making lives more fulfilled.

Our Values

We are Crafty | We are Caring | We are Can-do

We Listen. We Care

Each year, we run an anonymous colleague engagement survey. This is so important for us to hear your feedback and suggestions. We want to know what’s going great, and what needs a couple of tweaks to help make The Works the best place you’ve ever worked! You’ll have opportunity to help give us that direction.