Merchandising Assistant

John Lewis Partnership; Bracknell; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

John Lewis Partnership in Bracknell is seeking a Merchandising Assistant to support the Category Proposition Group in planning, stock management, and inventory optimisation. You will work closely with suppliers, depots, and branches to ensure timely product availability and reduced waste.

The role focuses on operational coordination, data-driven troubleshooting, and collaboration across teams in a fast-paced retail environment. A hybrid working pattern with in-office and remote days is offered.

Qualifications

• Strong numerical and analytical skills.
• Experience in a retail or stock management environment.
• Proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets.

Responsibilities

• Execute purchasing, stock transfers, and replenishment plans to balance stock flow and support exit strategies.
• Serve as a central communication hub to resolve operational issues using root cause analysis.
• Monitor supplier performance and participate in critical path meetings for new product launches.
• Maintain core systems by running line setups, RMS uploads, shipment updates, and routine order adjustments.
• Analyse performance reports to identify risks or opportunities and present feedback to planners.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external partners to drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Numerical skills

Analytical skills

Retail/stock management

Excel proficiency

Tools

Excel

Job description

Apply on JLP Jobs - the official careers website for John Lewis Partnership, John Lewis & Partners, and Waitrose & Partners.

About the role

As a Merchandising Assistant you will sit at the very heart of our Category Proposition Group (CPG) planning function. You will play a vital role in keeping our supply chain moving smoothly, ensuring the right products reach the right places at the right time to maximise sales and customer satisfaction while keeping wastage to a minimum. In this fast-paced and collaborative position, you’ll act as a central operational link across our supply chain, working closely with suppliers, depots, and retail branches. Using commercial data and practical insights, you will help troubleshoot stock issues, support product launches, and continuously optimise our inventory performance.

Expected Salary - Salary up to £33,000, depending on experience

Contract type - Permanent

Location - Bracknell Head Office

Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work flexibly between the office and home based upon the needs of the business. The team will be in-person 3 days a week in the office to connect and attend key meetings. Core days are currently Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

Key responsibilities

• Execute purchasing, stock transfers, and replenishment plans to balance stock flow and support exit strategies.
• Serve as a central communication hub to resolve operational issues like late deliveries or branch queries using root cause analysis.
• Monitor supplier performance and participate in critical path meetings to hit key dates for new product launches and sequencing.
• Maintain core systems by running line setups, RMS uploads, shipment updates, and routine order adjustments.
• Analyse performance reports to identify commercial risks or opportunities and present actionable feedback to planners.
• Build strong, authentic relationships with internal and external partners to drive continuous improvement and streamlined ways of working.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Strong numerical and analytical skills
• Experience in a retail or stock management environment
• Proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets skills
• Proactive Approach to Learning and Development

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• Experience in a merchandising/stock planning environment
• Experience in data analytics
• Advanced skills in MS Excel & Google Sheets (including PivotTables, VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, and Data Tables)

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The partnership

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.

Important points to note:

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.

We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.

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.