Senior Merchandise Planning Manager

Card Factory; Wakefield; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Merchandise Planning Manager to join their dynamic Commercial team for a 12-month fixed-term role. This position is crucial for driving business objectives and maximizing sales across multiple channels. The ideal candidate will possess strong stakeholder management skills, a proven track record in merchandising, and the ability to inspire and develop teams. With a blend of in-office and remote work, this role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a leading retailer's ambitious omni-channel strategy while enjoying a wide range of employee benefits.

Benefits

25% Colleague Discount

Financial Education Tools

Salary Advance

Seasonal Incentive Schemes

Access to Learning and Development

Discounts across UK Retailers

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Proven track record in merchandising with multi-channel experience.
• Strong stakeholder management skills up to CCO level.

Responsibilities

• Manage stock, critical path, deliveries, and markdown plans.
• Collaborate with functions to maximize profitability.

Skills

Stakeholder Management

Commercial Awareness

Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving

Communication Skills

Team Leadership

Job description

We are looking for a Senior Merchandise Planning Manager to join the Commercial team at Card Factory to cover maternity leave on a 12-month fixed-term basis. In this exciting role, your work will be instrumental in helping to drive business objectives to maximize sales while protecting profit across Card Factory’s OMNI channels.

Reporting to the Head of Merchandising, you will work closely with Buying and Design teams to plan and trade ranges, ensuring in-season activity delivers planned sales, margin, and stock targets. You will manage the planning and budgeting process, creating appropriate sales strategies and tactics to suit trading conditions.

As a commercially and strategically minded professional, you will be able to inspire and motivate the team, enabling them to maximize their potential and achieve success through your coaching and development.

We operate smart working principles at Card Factory, combining some days working from our support centre in Wakefield (1-2 days a week) with some days working remotely from home.

Role Responsibilities

• Managing stock, critical path, deliveries, and markdown plans.
• Managing WSSI and adjusting to trading patterns to maximize full-price sales and minimize markdowns.
• Understanding and implementing the company strategy, developing departmental strategies with internal teams and peers.
• Maintaining a strong trading mentality with events, trading, and promotions to drive sales and meet targets. Leading weekly departmental trade meetings.
• Regularly reviewing risks and opportunities to increase sales and profit.
• Building business relationships through clear communication and strong collaboration.
• Collaborating with all functions, especially Retail, Warehouse, Manufacturing, Marketing, and Finance, to maximize profitability.
• Managing and mentoring junior colleagues.

The Ideal Candidate

This role will suit a leader with strong stakeholder management skills capable of managing relationships up to CCO level.

• Demonstrate commercial and financial awareness.
• Proven track record and recent comparable experience in a merchandising role, including multi-channel experience.
• Proven ability to deliver results both individually and as part of a team.
• Ability to challenge and work under pressure in a fast-moving retail environment.
• Robust commercial, analytical, problem-solving, and presentation skills.
• Strong communication and networking skills with the confidence to influence and engage at all levels.
• Experience in developing high-performing teams and leading through ambiguity in a constantly changing environment.

About the Company

Card Factory is the UK’s leading specialist retailer of greeting cards, dressings, and gifts, with over one thousand stores across the UK and Ireland. In 2020, we launched an exciting 5-year business strategy with a vision of becoming a true Omni-channel retailer. This strategy involves significant investment into our colleagues across the business, creating multiple opportunities to join a fast-paced environment and be part of our exciting journey.

In return, we offer a wide range of benefits to support your physical, mental, and financial well-being:

• 25% Card Factory colleague discount in-store and online
• Financial Wellbeing Support
  • Financial Education Tools
  • Salary Advance
• Seasonal incentive schemes
• Opportunity to apply for Retail Apprenticeships
• Access to blended learning and development content
• Discounts across hundreds of UK retailers
• Employee Assistance Programme – tools to support mental, physical, and financial well-being

This is an exciting role with genuine prospects for the right candidate. If this role aligns with your career aspirations, click apply now.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once sufficient suitable applications are received. We recommend applying early to avoid disappointment, as applications will be reviewed regularly.

Location: Century House, Brunel Road, Wakefield, 41 Industrial Estate, United Kingdom