Senior Merchandise Manager

Senior Merchandise Manager, based Waltham Abbey (Hybrid role). Salary c£60-65k k p.a. + many benefits.A key role in our commercial team helping to shape and deliver the strategy, sales and profitability of the department, working closely with our Buyers to build great range and trade plans and leading a team of merchandisers in the day to day activities.

The BenefitsIn return for your skills and experience as a Senior Merchandise Manager, we offer you the following:

• Competitive salary of c £60-65k p.a. (depending on experience)
• Generous 50% colleague discount on Jollyes products and discounts on additional services (e.g. dog grooming, community pet clinic)
• ‘Treats’ Employee Reward Scheme (discounts and cash back on hundreds of retailers and service providers)
• ‘We Care’ Employee Assistance Programme (discounts and cash back on various medical & mental health services)
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Additional paid leave for your wedding or civil partnership, new pet’s 1st day, long service and your birthday off!
• Cycle2Work scheme – up to 47% off a new bike and accessories with Halfords
• Retail Trust membership for lots of wellbeing, financial and counselling support

Further benefits on completion of probationary period:

• Critical Illness & Life Assurance schemes
• Private Medical Insurance
• Company pension scheme

 The Role – Senior Merchandise ManagerThis role sits within our Commercial team, reporting in to the Head of Merchandising and leading and developing a team of merchandisers. You’ll be shaping and delivering the department strategy to align with business plans, managing the sales and profitability of the department to deliver against all KPI’s and working collaboratively with the Buying team to build great range and trade plans for our customers.  

A full job description is available on request, but to summarise your key responsibilities as a Senior Merchandise Manager:

• Shape & deliver department strategy to align with business plans, presenting all key financials to senior leadership team and building departmental budgets & phasing
• Managing & forecasting departmental WSSI, addressing gaps between forecast & budget, highlighting risks and opportunities and managing KPIs
• Overseeing Monday trade reporting and ensuring next steps are actioned in response to trading conditions
• Develop and lead a high performing team, contributing to regular reviews capturing learnings & opportunities
• Support the role out of new systems & processes to drive continuous improvement in the category 
• Working collaboratively with our buying team to build ranges that meet customer needs, maximising sales and profit density and identifying opportunities
• Ensuring pricing is managed within agreed timescales, adhering to pricing policies
• Ensure all systems & trackers are accurately maintained by the team
• Work collaboratively with supply chain to achieve stock and availability targets, ensure intake & allocation plans are aligned to deliver the trade plan & manage clearance of terminal stock within budget
• Monitoring critical path and escalate and resolve risks and opportunities
• Creating exit plans to clear stock in line with agreed guidelines while optimising availability

The Skills – Job title

To be successful in this role, you’ll need the following skills, experience and qualities:

• Proven experience in commercial merchandising and category management, including strategy shaping & implementation, range & trade planning, OTB and exit management
• Excellent analytical skills with experience of WSSI / forecasting and budget building
• Has had success in leading, coaching & developing teams
• Effective stakeholder management with the confidence to influence and engage at all levels  
• Share our values of being: Wise, Focused, Genuine, Eager, Together

About Jollyes – The Pet People

Jollyes are an award-winning UK pet retailer with over 100 stores and 50 years of pet expertise between our paws. Winners of the Pet Industry Federation ‘Best Pet Retailer 2023’, Retail Week award for ‘Best Retailer 2024’ (under £250m t/o), and listed in the Sunday Times ‘Best Places to Work’ you really can be sure you’re joining a great brand and employer, trusted by our customers and our colleagues.

To Apply:

If you’re looking for a career with a company who will truly value you and recognize your contribution with some fantastic rewards and benefits, where you can really make a difference, click to apply today!

Respectfully no agencies please