Role purpose: Lead the product and merchandising function to deliver product offering for the various Brands in order to maximise sales and profit targets across the Group Retail business.
Key accountabilities
- Partner and influence strategic planning and budgeting process with the Banner Directors through department/category strategy;
- Implement the Product Channel Strategy for Retail Operations across the Group in line with brand directions including range plans;
- Develop and implement the Merchandising Planning process across the Group;
- Work with Country Managers and Banners to develop trading plans that enables the business to achieve maximum full price sales and planned margin;
- Implement a Group wide process for space planning in order to optimise the retail space, maximise sales and profit density;
- Manage a balanced, effective product assortment that meets or exceeds sales targets and growth;
- Ensure that the OTB reflects the Commercial targets;
- Implement a structure for regular WSSI reviews to ensure stock levels are managed in line with trade;
- Work with other commercial teams to agree and deliver promotional and marketing plans, optimising sales and profit;
- Plan and implement markdowns, promotions and transfers in order to ensure sales, margins and end of season inventory targets are achieved;
- Instigate ad-hoc analysis to achieve clarity of performance and take commercial decisions which drive the business performance by product, store;
- Identify risks and opportunities – constantly review OTB requirements, action repeats, cancellations, markdowns and manage the key sales and profit drivers;
- Maintain a clear knowledge and awareness of the market and the competition;
KPI’s
- Total Sales & Gross margin
- Terminal Stock at end of Season
Skills and Competence:
- 5+ years’ experience working in a similar role within a relevant sector
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to influence key members of the organisation to drive consensus and collaboration across functional groups and countries
- Excellent business math acumen, commercial and analytical skills to comprehend statistical information and reporting in order to make critical business decisions
- Strategic, pragmatic and result-oriented
- Ability to lead, manage and inspire a team in a multi-cultural environment
- Passion for the Fashion & Sports industry
- Ideally a Masters in Business or equivalent
- Fluency in English and French whilst Arabic is a plus
