Senior Merchandiser (FTC/Maternity Cover) 3 Days per Week

Rachel Jackson; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company is seeking a Senior Merchandiser to manage jewellery and packaging across online and wholesale channels. This role includes overseeing trading, buying, and New Product Development processes, while also line-managing a Dispatch Team Manager. The position offers a hybrid working model, requiring 3 days per week commitment with 1-2 days monthly in Ashford, Kent. Ideal candidates should have strong commercial acumen, supplier management experience, and excellent decision-making skills.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a senior merchandiser in retail/online and wholesale.
• Strong trading and commercial acumen with WSSI/OTB management.
• Attention to detail for stock control and quality checks.
• Experience managing New Product Development processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead merchandising for jewellery and packaging across various channels.
• Manage dispatch team capacity and workflows.
• Maintain supplier relationships and ensure timely deliveries.
• Conduct margin analyses and prepare quality reports.
• Collaborate with Marketing for promotional forecasting.

Skills

Senior merchandising experience

Trading and commercial acumen

Purchase ordering experience

Supplier management

Data-driven decision-making

Managing NPD processes

Communication skills

Advanced Excel skills

Tools

NetSuite

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Senior Merchandiser (FTC/Maternity Cover)

Working Pattern: 3 days per week (fixed-term contract — 12 months)

Location: Remote and 1-2 days in Ashford, Kent per month

Role Summary

Lead merchandising for jewellery and packaging across online and wholesale channels. Lead trading, buying, product lifecycle and New Product Development processes to maximise availability, margin and growth while maintaining strict stock, quality and supplier controls. Line-manage the Dispatch Team Manager and coordinate with Marketing, Ecom & Design.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Team

• Manage dispatch team capacity and workflows; ensure packaging and jewellery stock procedures are strictly followed & standards are upheld.
• Implement and monitor quality-control checks for packaging this is her with ambers support
• Packaging forecast & order management

Trading & Availability

• Maintain and update Weekly Stocks and Sales, buy sheets and Monday trading reports
• Ownership of sales in the monthly trading growth plan
• Ensure top-10 bestsellers are 98% in stock, ranks 11–30 are 95% in stock, and broader continuity at 90%.
• Collaborate with Marketing on promotional forecasting and stock planning; create and circulate OOS lists
• Trade online partners, reviewing sales and performance and actioning changes where needed

Buying & Supplier Management

• Manage ordering, forecasting and open-to-buy decisions aligned to performance, budget and cashflow.
• Raise and place purchase orders; agree OTB budgets with Finance and monitor OTB spend.
• Monitor incoming stock, liaise with suppliers and update NetSuite with cost prices.
• Maintain supplier relationships to ensure on-time deliveries.

Product Performance & Lifecycle

• Prepare quarterly faulty/delivery/quality reports with recommended actions for Senior Management Team
• Conduct bi-annual margin analyses, considering faults, wastage and returns; present findings.
• Keep product information and visual range plans up to date (including NetSuite and partner uploads).
• Produce end-of-season collection performance analyses for SMT and Marketing.
• React to trade/trend opportunities to maximise sales and limit risk.

New Product Development (NPD)

• Set and maintain main NPD critical path and sampling procedures.
• Lead visual range plan and pricing for new/existing collections to meet margin targets; agree with Rachel
• Final sign off & lock the range pre market

Wholesale & Partner Management

• Produce wholesale reporting and monitor partner orders; order stock for wholesale where required.
• Arrange weekly wholesale dispatch schedules and update platform sites with new collections.

Required Experience & Skills

• Proven experience as a senior merchandiser (retail/online and wholesale), ideally within jewellery, accessories or fashion.
• Strong trading and commercial acumen: WSSI/OTB management, forecasting and margin analysis.
• Experience with purchase ordering, supplier management and ERP systems (NetSuite or similar).
• Excellent data-driven decision-making skills and attention to detail (stock control, QC).
• Experience managing NPD processes and line-managing at least one direct report.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management (Marketing, Finance, Customer Care).
• Advanced Excel skills and familiarity with merchandising systems.