Merchandise Manager (FTC)

We are recruiting for a fashion retailer who are looking for an experienced Merchandise Manager for a 12 month FTC.

Based in London, you'll play a pivotal role within the Merchandising team, reporting directly to the Merchandising Director. You'll oversee the end-to-end critical path, from initial order placement through to delivery, ensuring seamless cross-functional collaboration between Buying, Design, and Supply Chain.

This role is a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on leadership, requiring you to manage a high-performing team while delivering commercial results in line with global objectives.

This role offers hybrid working.

Main Responsibilities will include:

• Lead, inspire, and develop a team of Senior Merchandisers, Junior Merchandisers, and Assistants.
• Collaborate with Senior Buyers and Design to build balanced, commercial ranges across genders and categories.
• Manage the option count and range planning process across all genders and categories, incorporating global partner needs.
• Deliver a top line strategy to the Executive team, ensuring margin targets are met along with a considered RRP architecture.
• Act as a key point of contact for global wholesale partners and operating companies, maintaining strong and proactive relationships.
• Align with partners on forecasts, range plans, pricing, and delivery timelines, ensuring local market requirements are reflected in assortment strategies.
• Lead regular trading and review meetings with key accounts, preparing and presenting detailed insights and performance analyses.
• Proactively identify and troubleshoot partner-specific challenges related to product assortment, timing, pricing, or margin pressures, offering practical, data-driven solutions.
• Monitor and react to in-season trading performance, ensuring their OTB is optimised.
• Own and manage the top-line critical path for product delivery, ensuring all milestones from order placement to shipment meet agreed KPIs for timeliness and quality.

Person Specification:

• Previous experience at Senior Merchandiser or Merchandise Manager level, ideally within a clothing wholesale environment.
• Strong product understanding with a passion for fashion and commercial instinct.
• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and execution-focused, with a proactive and solution-driven approach.
• Confident communicator who can adapt to a variety of stakeholders and drive cross-functional alignment.
• A problem-solver, capable of navigating ambiguity and resolving complex issues independently and with cross-functional teams.
• Advanced Excel skills and strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent analytical and financial acumen, with the ability to interpret and translate data into actionable insights.