Head of Buying and Merchandising

JR United Kingdom; Portsmouth; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in womenswear seeks a Head of Buying and Merchandising to shape product strategy amidst international expansion. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in buying and merchandising, with responsibilities including product planning and competitive market analysis.

Qualifications

• Strong background in senior Buying, Merchandising, or hybrid roles, ideally within womenswear.
• Experience in trend forecasting and competitive analysis across markets.
• International experience, particularly across EMEA and the US.

Responsibilities

• Lead seasonal strategy across Buying and Merchandising to deliver brand-aligned assortment.
• Drive benchmarking of competitors and identify product opportunities.
• Collaborate with Design, Digital, Marketing, and Retail on commercial goals.

Skills

Trend Forecasting

Competitive Analysis

Stock Flow

Seasonal Planning

E-commerce Strategy

Job description

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Head of Buying and Merchandising, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Client: Fella and Jones

Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom

Job Category: Other

EU work permit required: Yes

Job Views:

4

Posted:

04.06.2025

Expiry Date:

19.07.2025

Job Description:

Head of Buying and Merchandising

Location: London (Hybrid)

Salary: Up to £95,000 + package

Fella & Jones are thrilled to be exclusively partnered with a beautifully curated, design-led womenswear brand in their search for a Head of Buying and Merchandising. Known for its refined aesthetic and modern wardrobe solutions, this is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping product strategy and trading performance during a period of ambitious international growth.

We’re looking for a product-obsessed, commercially savvy leader with a strong background in Buying, or a hybrid Buying/Merchandising role. This role goes beyond the numbers—while commercial strategy and inventory planning are key, so too is your ability to spot product and market trends, analyse competitor activity, and influence everything from styling and assortment to pricing and brand positioning.

Key Responsibilities

• Product Strategy & Planning: Lead seasonal strategy across Buying and Merchandising, ensuring a compelling, brand-aligned assortment that delivers both creative and commercial results.
• Market & Competitor Insight: Drive regular benchmarking of competitors, identifying product opportunities and whitespace to inform buy and trading decisions.
• Sales & Performance Management: Use data, intuition, and insight to optimise full-price sell-through, category performance, and margin across regions.
• Cross-Functional Influence: Collaborate closely with Design, Digital, Marketing, and Retail to align product, content, and commercial goals.
• Creative Brand Guardian: Be confident in influencing campaign styling, imagery, and messaging to ensure product is presented with impact and intent.
• Stock Management: Lead the forecasting, allocation, and trading cadence to ensure inventory agility and sales optimisation across all channels.
• Team Leadership: Inspire, mentor, and grow a high-performing team across Buying and Merchandising, fostering a culture of pace, ownership, and product passion.

What You’ll Bring

• A strong background in senior Buying, Merchandising, or hybrid roles, ideally within premium or contemporary womenswear.
• Proven experience in trend forecasting, competitive analysis, and range building across multiple markets.
• Deep commercial understanding of stock flow, seasonal planning, and trading levers.
• International experience, particularly across EMEA and the US.
• A confident creative voice, with the ability to influence styling, product presentation, and content direction.
• A digital-first approach and experience working across e-commerce and omnichannel environments.
• Inspirational leadership and a collaborative mindset.

This is a rare opportunity to drive global growth for a brand that blends product integrity with commercial ambition. If you’re ready to lead both the product and trading conversation, we’d love to hear from you.