Merchandising Manager

Challenger, Inc.; Abbeystead; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Challenger, Inc. seeks a Merchandising Manager to own the merchandising strategy across online and wholesale channels, leading a small team and reporting directly into the Senior Leadership Team.

You will drive end-to-end planning, partner with Buying and Production/Sourcing, and use product knowledge to inform range and stock decisions while protecting margin. With proven leadership in fashion, sportswear or lifestyle apparel, you will shape how the merchandising function evolves as the

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Merchandising Manager, Senior Merchandiser, or similar leadership-level role.
• Strong understanding of own-brand product and production processes.
• Experience across online/D2C and wholesale channels is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end merchandising strategy across online and wholesale channels.
• Lead, develop and grow a small merchandising team.
• Drive sales, stock and intake planning with production timelines.

Skills

Merchandising leadership

Team leadership

Analytical skills

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

good team - your job is to elevate both.

The Role:

As Merchandising Manager, you'll take ownership of the merchandising strategy across the business, managing a small team and reporting directly into the Senior Leadership Team.

• Owning the end-to-end merchandising strategy across online and wholesale channels, ensuring plans are commercially robust and aligned to ambitious growth targets.
• Leading, developing and growing a small merchandising team, raising capability and building a strong bench for the future.
• Driving sales, stock and intake planning, with a close eye on own-brand production timelines and critical path.
• Partnering closely with Buying and Production/Sourcing teams, using a strong understanding of own-brand product development to inform range and stock decisions.
• Analysing trade across channels, identifying risk and opportunity, and translating insight into clear, confident recommendations for senior leadership.
• Managing markdown, promotional and clearance strategy to protect margin while maximising sell-through.
• Building strong relationships with wholesale partners, ensuring stock commitments and order books are aligned with the wider business plan.
• Acting as a key voice in shaping how the merchandising function evolves as the business continues to scale.

About You:

• Proven experience in a Merchandising Manager, Senior Merchandiser, or similar leadership-level role, ideally within fashion, sportswear or lifestyle apparel.
• Strong understanding of own-brand product and production - you'll know your way around critical path, lead times and the realities of working with manufacturers.
• Experience across both online/D2C and wholesale channels is a strong advantage.
• A natural leader with genuine people management experience, able to develop and get the best from a small team.
• Commercially sharp, analytical, and comfortable presenting recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Ambitious and progression-minded - this role has real scope to grow as the business grows, and we're looking for someone who wants to grow with it.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where priorities can shift quickly.

What's On Offer:

• A brand new role with genuine ownership and influence, reporting directly into senior leadership.
• The chance to lead and shape a small, capable team with plans in place for future headcount.
• Real responsibility from day one, with a clear path for progression as the brand continues its exponential growth.
• The opportunity to join a challenger brand at a genuinely exciting point in its journey.

BH37241