Merchandising Manager

As Merchandising Manager at the John Lewis Partnership, your role is pivotal to leading Merchandising within your Category. You are responsible for translating the Directorate strategy into an effective Category strategy., In this role, you will be accountable for actively managing an element of the assortment within the overall category you are responsible for, as determined by the needs of the category. You will work closely with the Commercial Planning team to provide commercial rigour in planning and forecasting to maximise profitability and customer satisfaction through driving availability and optimising working capital. You'll lead the Merchandising team within your category and be expected to be a role model across the function. Be a champion of change by embracing new Merchandising tools, processes and systems. As well as leading & energising the team and creating the conditions for all Partners to thrive, making their best contribution to achieve their potential. You'll leverage your accountabilities and essential skills to drive category performance and contribute to the overall success of John Lewis Partnership., Our BAME Network supports Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic Partners, celebrate their contributions and create a more inclusive workplace.Faith & Belief FAB (Faith & Belief) is aimed at educating, celebrating and increasing awareness of all faiths and beliefs.Gender Equality Promoting Gender equality, empowering Partners to overcome barriers and be more involved in topics outside of their day job.Linkages Our intergenerational or age network aiming to build awareness of the benefits and opportunities of an intergenerational workforce.Pride Our first network that we developed. Designed to support the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.Working Parents Our Working Parents' Network supports and inspires working parents throughout their parenting journey.Care Experience Providing a safe and supportive community for Partners with experience in the care system.Carers Network The network aims to raise awareness and support Partners who are carers, and their allies.Ability Championing workplace disability inclusion by creating a supportive environment and offering peer communities for those with diverse needs.Unity Our BAME Network supports Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic Partners, celebrate their contributions and create a more inclusive workplace.Faith & Belief FAB (Faith & Belief) is aimed at educating, celebrating and increasing awareness of all faiths and beliefs.Gender Equality Promoting Gender equality, empowering Partners to overcome barriers and be more involved in topics outside of their day job.Linkages Our intergenerational or age network aiming to build awareness of the benefits and opportunities of an intergenerational workforce.Pride Our first network that we developed. Designed to support the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.Working Parents Our Working Parents' Network supports and inspires working parents throughout their parenting journey.

• Proven expertise in retail merchandising, including assortment planning, inventory management, and pricing strategies.
• Experience across a minimum of two retail categories, demonstrating versatility and an understanding of diverse product ranges and market dynamics.
• Advanced proficiency in data analysis, numerical reasoning, and financial analysis (including MS Excel) to forecast demand, inform decisions, and clearly present complex insights to all stakeholders.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for negotiating with suppliers and collaborating with cross-functional teams on merchandising strategy.
• Demonstrated success in driving commercial outcomes, including sales growth, margin improvement, and inventory optimisation.
• Comprehensive understanding of retail operations, supply chain management, and logistics, including proficiency with inventory management and forecasting systems.
• Commitment to continuous learning and staying updated on industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in retail merchandising.
Desirable skills/experience you may have
• Exposure to working within matrix leadership structures, collaborating across multiple teams and functions to achieve common objectives.
• Ability to navigate complex organisational dynamics and leverage diverse perspectives to drive results.
• Proficiency in utilising data analysis tools and techniques to derive actionable insights and inform strategic decision-making and experience in forecasting demand, sales trends, and market dynamics to anticipate future opportunities and risks.
  
  We're the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We're not just employees, we're Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there's never been a more exciting time to join us.
We're ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose. As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we're free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it., This is where you'll be based, whether that's in a shop, distribution centre or one of our head offices. London Central Office 1 Drummond Gate London, SW1V 2QQ See Commute


• Expected salary up to - £ 68,900.00 - £105,200.00 is the full pay band; however, we are looking for candidates up to £ 82K depending on experience
• Contract type - This position is a Permanent contract
• Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home-based upon your personal needs, whilst balancing the needs of the business. The Merchandising team aim for a minimum of 3 days a week in the office, We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview., Leisure Learning
Enjoy learning a new skill or hobby even more by claiming up to £200 towards certain tutored courses. (Applies to courses which you pay for in advance yourself).PARTNER DISCOUNT 25% off at John Lewis and 20% at Waitrose. We knew you'd like this one! (some exclusions apply). (Partner discount is only available following successful completion of your 90-day Earning Membership period once you have started).Clubs & Societies From arts & crafts to fishing, from skiing to running, we have so many clubs and societies bringing Partners with shared interests together.HOLIDAY & LEAVE Enjoy a generous holiday provision. Plenty of time for some rest and relaxation. (The amount of holiday you'll get depends on your role and working hours. It increases over time).PENSION & LIFE ASSURANCE Secure your future with our comprehensive pension scheme and life assurance.