Description
We're looking for an Assistant Merchandiser to join our Womenswear Brands team on a 12-month fixed-term contract.
Working at M&S means being part of something bigger – helping to deliver quality, value, and service to millions of customers every day. We're inclusive, fast-moving, and always evolving, with a strong sense of purpose and a focus on doing the right thing.
Responsibilities:
- Support the Merchandiser in agreeing strategy and targets for creating and achieving pre- and in-season Range sales and stock forecasts by channel
- Analyse sales, identifying winners and losers, and take appropriate actions, working with stakeholders to react to trade and maximise sales opportunities
- Assist the Merchandiser and Buying team in formulating a detailed plan on products to be offered each quarter across all channels, including International
- Book quantities of products to meet launch and respond to in-season variables for all channels in the UK and International
- Assist with Department Plan reviews and lessons learned
- Manage departmental documentation relating to all sale periods, including markdown plans
- Maintain accurate listings in Range Planner
- Work with Sourcing Offices to manage critical paths from buy to delivery for each stroke, including global capacity management and agreement and monitoring of global production plans with suppliers
- Provide information to Space Planning & Development team to allow them to generate layout plans for stores
- Maintain awareness of competitors' product offers to provide input into price point strategy and catalogue by shape of chain
- Maintain communication links to retail, channels, allocation, suppliers, sourcing offices, and International
- Implement and exploit new systems and processes
- Assist the International team to maximise M&S departmental sales during International Buying events
Requirements:
- 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
- Ability to fully utilise relevant IT support systems (Range Planner, SSI, SAS Reporting, JDA Merch Planning) and be 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)
Benefits:
- 20% colleague discount on all M&S products and many third-party brands for you and someone in your household
- Competitive holiday allowance with the option to buy more
- Discretionary bonus schemes linked to your performance and ours
- Strong pension and life assurance to help plan for the future
- Tailored induction and training to support your development from day one
- Exclusive perks and savings through our M&S Choices portal
- Market-leading family policies, including parental, adoption, and neonatal leave
- 24/7 wellbeing support, including virtual GP access and mental health services
- One paid volunteer day a year to support a cause that matters to you