Key accountabilities and measures

• Supporting the Merchandiser in agreeing the strategy and targets for creating and achieving pre and in season Range sales and stock forecasts by channel in addition to GSM Markdown and availability
• Analysis of sales identifying winners and losers and taking appropriate actions working in collaboration with stakeholders to react to trade and maximise sales opportunity for the Department
• Assisting the Merchandiser and Buying team to formulate a detailed plan on the products to be offered each quarter across all channels inc International
• Booking quantities of products to meet launch and respond to in season variables for all channels in the UK and International
• Assisting Department Plan review and lessons learned
• Managing departmental documentation relating to all sale periods including markdown plans
• Maintaining accurate listings in Range Planner
• Working with Sourcing Offices to manage critical path from buy to delivery for each stroke including global capacity management and the agreement and monitoring of global production plans with suppliers
• Providing information to Space Planning & Development team to allow them to generate layout plans to stores
• Maintaining awareness of competition’s product offer to provide input into price point strategy and catalogue by shape of chain
• Maintaining communication links to retail, channels, allocation, suppliers, sourcing offices and international
• Implementing and exploiting new systems and processes
• Assist the International team to maximise M&S departmental sales during International Buying events

Key skills

• Core Merchandising skills including managing GSM, development of Department Plan, stock / commitment management, creating sales estimates, and production plans
• Knowledge of the end to end buy to store process
• Controlling unplanned in-season costs
• Negotiation skills (managing in season unplanned costs)
• Knowledge of M&S brand and sub-brand strategy
• Able to fully utilise the relevant IT support systems, (Range Planner, SSI, SAS Reporting, JDA Merch Planning) and to be fully conversant with standard business desktop applications
• Strong numerical, analytical and interpretive skills
• Ability to initiate and build strong relationships with Design, Buying and Technology
• Strong interpersonal/ communication skills
• Influencing (internal & external)

Key relationships and stakeholders

• Merchandising team and peers
• Commercial and Operations Team
• Retail, Ecommerce, International, Ocado, Outlets
• Suppliers
• Sourcing Offices Buying Team
• Demand and Fulfilment Team Retail Trading
• Finance
• Supply Chain and Logistics