Senior Merchandiser - Own Label

We are recruiting for a Senior Merchandiser to join our Merchandise Planning division here at Harrods. This role is an 18- month fixed term contract.

About the Role 

As a Senior Merchandiser, you will be responsible for leading the department, overseeing the planning of sales, stocks, margins and open to buy (OTB). Working closely with the Merchandise Manager, you will manage the intake of stock across all channels as well as deliver business wider projects and drive strategy. 

Leading a team of Merchandisers, Assistant Merchandisers and Merchandise Admin Assistants you will inspire your team to deliver against key deadlines, ensuring all priorities are met. Through clear communication, coaching and development, you will ensure maximum accuracy and efficiency across the team, leading on changes to processes or reporting to support your teams output.

You will support Merchandise Manager in the review and roll up of budgets, working alongside Finance Analysts to prepare for budget sign off. You will also advise on top line sales growth with the Head of Buying; guiding the Merchandiser to build departmental plans based on space optimisation, brand or category opportunities. 

Your responsibilities will also include:

• Guiding strategy on range including options, depth and size based on history & trend, ensuring analysis & actual buy is reflective of the strategy.
• Advising on top line sales growth with Head of Buying. Guiding the Merchandiser to build departmental plans based on space optimisation, brand or category opportunities. Ensure planned cash margin growth for the Division meets expectation of the business.
• Assessing & approving monthly sales & stock forecasts across all channels, challenging the team to reduce risks & maximise opportunities.
• Working alongside the Demand Planning Manager to improve availability & ensure replenishment is supporting sales plans.
• Overseeing intake for the division ensuring no late deliveries and quick resolution of trouble shipments.
• Acting as a point of escalation for brands to improve intake performance and accuracy.

About You 

You will be someone with a wealth of experience at Senior Merchandiser level, or a well-established Merchandiser who is looking for a step up; ideally you will have overseen multiple departments at any one time. You will have excellent awareness and prior experience in the category – able to share your knowledge and guidance with your team. 

You will also be commercially aware and strategically minded, able to demonstrate their involvement in business wide strategic projects. You will be used to bring fresh ideas and innovation to your team, whilst being able to push the boundaries and consistently strive for exceptional results, be it people management, project delivery or system efficiencies. You will be able to identify opportunities, mitigate risk and confidently lead your team through times of change.

You will also possess:

• Excellent working knowledge of and proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Strong customer service focus when dealing with both internal and external parties.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent time-management skills and the ability and willingness to multi-task.
• A collaborative leadership style, able to join the dots across the business.
• Flexibility and readiness to adapt to changing priorities

About Us

Harrods is one of the world’s leading luxury department stores and we’re becoming a destination for top designers, and the most sought-after brands from around the globe. Our combined mission is to make visiting our iconic Knightsbridge store one of the world’s most inspiring shopping experiences.

Our Promise to You

Help us make the impossible possible for our customers and we’ll do something remarkable for you. As well as offering a friendly environment to inspire your best work, we provide abundant opportunities and support to build an exceptional career across the varied specialisms of our business. 

In return you’ll receive an excellent benefits package, including a company pension, flexible working, 25 days’ holiday, and your birthday off, up to 33% in-store discount (including across our food hall and restaurants), eligibility for a competitive bonus and a season ticket loan.

Uniquely You

At Harrods we believe the personality and authenticity of our people sets us apart. We celebrate and invite applications from all cultures, backgrounds, tastes, and experiences and are proud of our culture where people from all walks of life can grow and thrive. What makes you unique makes us exceptional.

While our job adverts outline the ideal qualities, skills, and prior experience for the role, we believe in the potential for growth and value individual strengths. If you do not meet every desired criteria but feel you have the skills and experience to thrive in this role as well as a genuine interest in working for Harrods and you can demonstrate an alignment with our values, we would encourage you to apply.