Assistant Merchandiser - Fashion

AlFuttaim; Dubai; On-site; AED 78,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

Al-Futtaim Retail in Dubai is seeking an Assistant Merchandiser to support commercial decision-making through sales and stock analysis across allocation, buying, stores and digital channels.

You will help maintain inventory levels, support catalogue buying and range development, and contribute to seasonal analysis and demand planning, in a role designed for Emiratisation with opportunities to grow within the M and S business.

Qualifications

• Degree in Business Management or related field.
• At least 3 years of Fashion Buying and Merchandising experience at Assistant Merchandiser or Allocator level.
• Retail buying environment experience; MENA/European experience preferred.
• Proficient in Excel and Microsoft applications; SAP knowledge is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Analyze sales, stock, customer behaviour and product performance to support decisions.
• Work across allocation, buying, stores and digital channels to manage inventory.
• Assist in catalogue buying, seasonal analysis, demand planning and range building.
• Support store stock requirements and improve sell-through.

Skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Data interpretation

Allocation & buying

Merchandising knowledge

Excel proficiency

SAP knowledge

Retail passion

Education

Business Management degree

Tools

SAP

MS Excel

Office suite

Job description

Assistant Merchandiser - Fashion Job Snapshot

Al-Futtaim Retail is hiring an Assistant Merchandiser in Dubai, United Arab Emirates for an Emiratization opportunity supporting the M and S business.

• Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Industry: Retail
• Function: Merchandise Planning and Buying
• Experience: At least 3 years of Fashion Buying and Merchandising experience at AM or Allocator level
• Job Type: Full-time

Job Details

• Country: United Arab Emirates
• City: Dubai
• Industry: Retail
• Salary: Not disclosed
• Gender: No Preference
• Candidate Nationality: Emirati
• Job Type: Full-time

Overview of the Role

The Assistant Merchandiser will support commercial decision-making through accurate analysis of sales, stock availability, customer behaviour, and product performance. Working across allocation, buying, stores, and digital channels, the role will help maintain appropriate inventory levels and size availability while identifying opportunities to improve sell-through. The position also contributes to catalogue buying, seasonal analysis, demand planning, digital range building, and team development. A strong understanding of the retail market and enthusiasm for the M and S brand are important to success in the role.

Allocation and Stock Management

• Manage accurate BTF setting and ratio balancing.
• Guide and train Allocators on relevant allocation processes and systems.
• Manage and implement the AI Allocation solution from Invent Analytics.
• Liaise directly with stores to understand regional stock requirements.
• Support optimum inventory levels and appropriate size availability.
• Use strategic allocation decisions to improve product availability and sell-through.
• Monitor store requirements and respond to stock-related issues.

Business Reporting and Trading Analysis

• Generate clear and accurate business reports and maintain established reporting processes.
• Track promotional performance and analyse weekly trade reports.
• Recommend actions based on trading results and emerging performance trends.
• Identify and report best-selling and underperforming products.
• Analyse customer habits and product choices.
• Maintain accurate underlying data used for merchandise analysis.
• Produce seasonal sales analysis to support future buying recommendations.
• Combine qualitative and quantitative insights to assist buying decisions.

Catalogue Buying and Range Development

The Assistant Merchandiser will support the Senior Merchandiser and Merchandiser throughout the catalogue buying process, using historical performance, budgets, promotional plans, and market knowledge to inform range decisions.

• Maintain the Core Buying sheet.
• Support implementation of the Demand Planning solution.
• Enter buying quantities into IBT and the Digital Range Building system.
• Prepare planograms using DRB.
• Compare proposed buying decisions against previous-year performance.
• Monitor buying requirements against available budgets and the promotional calendar.
• Generate IBO ranges.
• Contribute relevant market insights to business unit strategy and range development.

Store and Business Communication

• Act as the first point of contact for stores regarding stock-related matters.
• Support weekly trade communications.
• Contribute to retail conference planning.
• Facilitate digital transformation activities supporting the product journey across stores and online channels.
• Provide clear and accurate product information to business users.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the Principal.
• Ensure online product data and descriptions are clear and customer-friendly.
• Support consistency between the physical and digital retail offer.

Team Development

• Work towards defined SMART Objectives.
• Communicate relevant strategic direction to the team.
• Provide coaching that supports team capability and development.
• Contribute to succession planning in coordination with HRBP.
• Role model Al-Futtaim Way Behaviours and M and S Values.
• Support strong team engagement.
• Facilitate quality PDR processes to strengthen performance and development.

Required Skills

• Strong analytical and numerical capabilities.
• High attention to detail when working with merchandise and sales data.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to interpret trading information and make data-informed recommendations.
• Capability to manage complexity across allocation, buying, and store requirements.
• Strong understanding of retail buying and merchandising processes.
• High proficiency in Excel and key Microsoft applications.
• Knowledge of SAP is beneficial.
• Passion for retail, customer satisfaction, and product performance.

What Qualifies You for the Role

• Degree in Business Management or a related field.
• At least 3 years of experience in Fashion Buying and Merchandising at Assistant Merchandiser or Allocator level.
• Experience within a retail buying environment.
• MENA and-or European retail experience is preferred.
• Knowledge of UK and European brands is preferred.
• High proficiency in Excel and key Microsoft applications.
• SAP knowledge is beneficial.
• This position is designated for Emiratization.