Concessions Category Manager

The Concession Category Manager role will manage the on-boarding & trading of Harrods’ Concession brands on Harrods.com.  The Concession Category Manager will work closely with the Online Trading Team – specifically the Fashion and Non-Fashion Category Managers - and the Buying & Merchandising function to optimise the online trading of existing Concession brands and to identify new Concession Brand targets for .com on-boarding.

This role offers the opportunity to refine and optimise the delivery of the existing digital concession model, working directly with luxury brand partners. This role will also work closely with the Digital Brand Partnership team – responsible for transitioning existing Concession partners to the newly developed Harrods E-Concession model - which will be key to the creation of the longer-term brand development roadmap for the ecommerce business.

Category Strategy & Planning

• Work alongside Store Buying [Fashion Director, Heads Of] and .com Senior Leadership [Head of Online Trading & Merchandising & Head of Digital Brand Partnerships] to create and implement cross-channel divisional strategy
• Setting strategic and commercial on-boarding priorities with the Head of Online Trading & Merchandising, Head of Digital Brand Partnerships and Head of Fashion directorates
• Work closely with Store Buying to manage conversions from OB to concession, including CDM on-boarding, stock transfer, .com migration processes etc.
• Work closely with Brand Partnerships to manage conversion to E-Concession
• Lead Concession Brand Quarterly Brand Reviews
• Develop and maintain brand relationships 

Concessions On-Boarding & Operational Management

• Leading concession on-boarding process for Harrods Store including working directly with senior leadership and Concession brands to define the Concession operating model (shop floor vs. warehouse)
• Ensure onboarding requirements are met by brands, in terms of data / file transfers, information
• Support the different potential operating models within the divisions:

• Pick from shop floor
• Warehouse
• Hybrid model

• Set-up and maintain trading relationships between Harrods.com & concession brands:

• technical integration (CDM) and on-going merchandise data management
• demand forecasting
• range planning and in-season management
• picking and fulfilment

• Manage stock and supply chain across the Concessions:

• work closely with merch data and merchandise planning teams
• PFSF/PFDC optimisation
• Shared stock holding and allocation
  • Oversee delivery process for Online-managed concessions stock and resolve trouble shipments
  • Proactively work with concession partners to ensure sufficient stock for promotional periods across channels
  • Negotiate and execute RTVs for Online-managed concessions stock based on analysis from Merchandising
• Replenishment models

Online Trading Performance

• Continuously analyse and monitor performance of current concessions online – working alongside the Fashion and non-Fashion Category Managers to assess online performance (Operational KPIs)and identify operational optimisations to drive improved trading results
• Attend weekly trading online meetings: owning Concession operations KPIs & follow on actions to drive online trading results
• Lead Concession Brand Quarterly Brand Reviews – working closely with the Fashion and non-Fashion Category Managers to set a performance driven agenda providing clear insights and highlighting accountable actions

Concessions Model Optimisations

• Actively promote and implement projects both within Harrods.com and the wider business that will provide trading advantages, streamlined processes in relation to Concessions that will deliver profit to the business.
• Proactively drive process optimisations for the Concession operating model (s)
• Work alongside Brand Partnership team to feed in Concession future operating model requirements

Team Management & Development

• Leading, managing and coaching the Concessions team
• Working with other Category managers on cross-divisional or multi-functional projects and ensuring clear communication with the Head of Online Trading & Head of Digital Brand Partnerships of all key operational and strategic activities
• Ensure that a “trading” culture exists within the team, focused on optimising performance based on operational streamlining and process efficiency

[CAITLIN – STRATEGY]

While based in Hammersmith, the role may require some travel to other Harrods office locations e.g. Knightsbridge, Thatcham and or Brand locations.

• Concession Brand Online KPIs: Sales, Margin, CVR
• Operational Online KPIs: OOS, Time To Dispatch, Exceptions Processing
• New Concession Brands On-Boarded

• Relationship Management – Strong demonstrable capability to establish and sustain effective professional relationships at all levels in the organisation with a focus on service delivery and clear communication to enable this.
• People Management – particularly influencing/managing people without direct authority.
• Excellent Stakeholder Management - able to demonstrate credibility with senior management and good conflict resolution skills.
• Capacity to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritise workload
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent time-management skills and the ability and willingness to multi-task.
• Positive, self-motivated, can-do approach and solution orientated style
• Flexibility and readiness to adapt to changing priorities.
• A willingness to consider alternative opinions, shrewd and balanced judgement
• Strong work ethic and unwavering commitment to Harrods values.
• Ability to perform duties effectively with minimum supervision and guidance
• Confident in making decisions and accepting accountability for actions

At Harrods, we ask everyone to believe in the Art of the Possible, to challenge the conventional view of what is possible and turn delivery into an art form. Our brand needs us to be Master of Luxury, Experts of Exceptional and Creators of Magic, As brands are made by people, our people have a really important role to play.

We have five employee values that show us the way; We take pride, We Strive to Exceed, We are One, We are Human and We Build Trust. These values are the behaviours and ways of working that we attach the most importance to at Harrods. We use our values to illustrate how we want to be with each other, with customers, with suppliers and other stakeholders.

• Integrity & Trust
• Resilience & Composure
• Planning & Organising
• Persuading & Influencing
• Leading & Managing
• Sound Business Acumen