Senior Merchandiser - Clothing - IN

What I need to do

• Excellent understanding of UK performance and immediate commercial priorities from weekly trade, proactively respond to trading needs in stock management and supply base requirements
• Attend season intent and understand the season strategy; identify sourcing priorities in collaboration with your buying and merchandising team peers
• Join selective development trips (physical or remote) to lead price negotiations
• Support the development process for continuity product with the Buying and Global Design team
• Negotiating all prices on behalf of our business with direct and indirect suppliers across my region; consolidate prices across the region and maintain accurate initial and final quote sheets and submit to my relevant Buying team member
• Lead negotiations in tenders and manage the tender process
• Obtain and leverage open cost sheets for all mandatory styles in line with our criteria
• Manage & negotiate lead times and capacity with suppliers supporting the Assistant Merchandiser where applicable, and provide my UK colleagues with weekly visibility of available capacity in our key sites
• Drive operational excellence and identify opportunities to deliver efficiency in the team; embrace changes in process and support cross functional change projects including sustainability initiatives
• Initiate the sourcing process for DS and DI for relevant products; pre-vet factories; lead on supply base reinvigoration and manage the supplier set up process
• Support the supplier management process and the development of joint business plans with selective suppliers
• Know the factories we produce in “inside-out”; understand the ethical, technical and sustainability performance of our sites
• Support the Assistant Merchandiser in providing solutions to critical path and production challenges when escalated ensuring all critical deadlines are met and robust progress meetings are in place

What I need to know

• Extensive sourcing and merchandising experience with product specific expertise
• Strong knowledge of production processes, techniques, and product components
• Strong awareness of UK market trends, competition, pricing and brands; I can read our trading reports
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills; broad cultural awareness of the markets I interact with
• Excellent business written and spoken English

What I need to show

• Excellent awareness of components of cost and impact on FOB; I understand the levers that impact MOQs and costs
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast paced dynamic sourcing environment
• A strong track record of delivery of results as an individual and within a team
• A skilled negotiator able to leverage volume breakpoints and market dynamics; lead supplier engagement and resilient in dealing with suppliers from different cultures and in different time-zones
• Manage production & price issues with suppliers confidently and at pace; able to identify problems and develop practical solutions
• Bring my experience & expertise to challenging situations; I am customer centric
• I can confidently run meetings with suppliers and UK colleagues in both Asia and in the UK; I have the confidence to influence and engage, and building great relationships with key stakeholders
• A good understanding of the wider business and our priorities in the existing context

Our Valued Behaviors

Own it

• Deliver a wide range of tasks, and take ownership for solving problems that you identify
• Actively share your thoughts and are prepared to challenge others in a positive way
• Use business context and other information sources to make decisions
• Regularly review your goals with your line manager

Make it better

• Open minded and try new ways of doing things, making things simpler where possible
• Adaptable and respond positively when circumstances change
• Show curiosity about the business beyond your immediate role
• Seek feedback from those you work with and understand your strengths and development areas
• Provide regular fair and accurate feedback to others

Be human

• Ask questions to understand where others are coming from. Show care and respect for how others are feeling and provide support to those around you
• Listen and ask questions about the needs and motivations of others to build effective relationships
• Regularly gather customer feedback and use this insight to continuously improve the customer experience