Senior Merchandising Manager

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

As Senior Merchandising Manager, you will be responsible for Japan House London Enterprise's (JHLE) Buying and Merchandising function.

You will develop and execute a comprehensive merchandising strategy, ensuring on-brand and profitable product ranges are developed, aligned with business goals, revenue and profit targets.

The Senior Merchandising Manager will lead the Buying and Merchandising Team and work closely with other members of the Retail Team to ensure JHLE merchandising strategy is developed in line with the Retail Team KPIs, the needs of the customer and the ultimate mission of Japan House London.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Merchandising Strategy

• Develop and implement the merchandising strategy to optimise the product ranges in store and online to ensure revenue and profit targets are achieved
• Analyse market trends, customer insight and sales data to make informed decisions on product selection, pricing, and inventory management
• Develop and manage merchandising budgets, ensuring effective allocation of resources to drive sales and meet financial targets
• Coordinate with suppliers and vendors to negotiate terms, pricing, and delivery schedules to maintain optimal inventory levels and put in place commercial agreements and monitor vendor performance and manage vendor contracts and agreements
• Analyse product performance and advise on product presentation, display layout and visual merchandising to help maximise revenue targets and customer experience
• Monitor competitor activities and market trends to stay ahead in the market and identify new opportunities for growth
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, and retail sales, to align merchandising strategies with overall business objectives

Finance, Procurement and Product Management

• Optimise the supply chain to ensure that Gross Margin is maximised
• Develop and implement inventory control strategies to maintain optimal stock levels, reduce excess inventory, and minimise out of stock
• Set OTB strategy in conjunction with annual forecast targets and and ensure we have the right stock in the right place at the right time to deliver sales and satisfy customer demand
• Set pricing strategies, adjust pricing, monitor stock levels and turnover rates and manage markdown to maximise profitability.
• Create and manage budgets for buying and merchandising activities, tracking and reporting on financial performance.
• Develop and implement merchandising management reports tracking departmental performance and reporting on variances and using data to make informed decisions
• Liaise as required with auditors and provide input to annual stocktake
• Prepare open to buy budgets, schedules, and other operational reports for submission to the Japan H.L. Enterprises Limited Board

Team & Risk Management

• Manage and lead the the Merchandising & Buying Team
• Provide guidance and direction to the Merchandising & Buying Team, fostering a collaborative, innovative and performance-driven work environment based on JHL Values
• As appropriate, support Japan House London's initiatives, cross-functional projects, and organisational development activities.
• Work closely with contracted vendors and suppliers to ensure that product is both authentic and aligns to the overall mission of Japan House London and delivers against margin and revenue targets.
• Ensure all product fulfils all legal health and safety guidelines.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Over 5 years experience at senior level in merchandising and buying in high end retail sector
• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent
• Demonstrated leadership and management experience
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent financial analysis capability and planning skills
• Excellent business acumen, with strong fact-based decision-making and problem-solving capabilities
• Collaborative approach to building relationships across teams and with suppliers and stakeholders
• Proficiency in using merchandising software and data analysis tools
• Experience with ERP systems, logistics and distribution
• Ability to prioritise and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously with an ability to work independently
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and leverage insights to drive business growth.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Detail-oriented with a keen eye for product assortment and trends.
• Willingness to continuously improve, develop, and understand industry best practices

QUALITIES

Leadership Motivate and inspire people to engage with The Japan House vision. Coach and build a team that is effective at achieving that vision. Drive excellence and brand quality. Chamption Japan House London values within the team.

Effectiveness Nurture the strengths and talents of the people you work with and build teams committed to achieving common goals. Good collaborator who can balance what is required to get the job done well while allowing for both sustained relationships and sustained results.

Efficiency Have a clear direction with a goal on which to focus and the motivation to achieve it. Determine which tasks should be prioritized, and which should be discarded, effectively delegating both the responsibility for completing assignments and the authority required to get things done.

Versatility Adapt your approach when necessary and have a number of different styles in your repertoire. Have empathy and emotional intelligence to understand what style to use in which situation.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• We aim for a flexible approach to work locations, balancing regular on-site presence and working remotely. The mix of office-based working and remote working will be determined by business need and role requirements.
• Some duties will be carried out in Japan House London public spaces
• Office is based at Japan House London, Kensington High Street, however, off-site work is occasionally required.
• Normal working hours are eight hours per day, five days per week, with core hours from 10am to 3pm.

Japan House London is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce. We encourage applications to our roles from people of all backgrounds and particularly welcome those from under-represented groups.