Junior Merchandiser - Brands

Salary: Competitive plus benefits

Working Pattern: Full Time

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 38.75

About Matalan From humble beginnings to disruptive innovations in the retail industry, find out about how Matalan is ever-evolving here.

We know as a team, we are stronger together – we champion equality for all and make lasting connections that go beyond work. We thrive off our inclusive culture, encouraging our colleagues to bring their true selves to work and contributing to collective creativity, open-mindedness and growth.

We want give every candidate the opportunity to perform at their best throughout the application and interview process and then ultimately in their role. If you require any adjustments during our recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

In the event that a high volume of suitable applications are received, the post may close prior to the specified closing date. Please apply as soon as possible if interested.

About The Role As a Junior Merchandiser on our Brand team you will support the Senior Merchandiser in managing our brand partners across various online product categories, delivering new and existing initiatives to achieve our sales and profit plans. You will take timely and accurate action to support planning, product setup, and promotional administration, and work closely with partners to deliver the best product at the best price and at the right time.

Key Responsibilities

• Set and agree KPIs for dropship brands in terms of demand, despatch sales, margin, and options, using a framework to build from brand level to the total budget.
• Day-to-day management of our online brand partners, building strong working relationships to drive performance
• Attend regular trade and operational meetings, confidently presenting trade and performance information, managing actions, and cascading updates on any opportunities, risks, or issues identified.
• Manage the WSSI, planning and forecasting sales and profit in alignment with partner plans.
• Own the full end-to-end process for setting up dropship products online and drive continuous process improvement. Support suppliers with any issues they experience, troubleshooting and escalating to the relevant parties where required.
• Monitor and manage product availability to ensure the full range is available online. Use systems such as BI, e-commerce reporting, and Mirakl to support sales, and communicate potential issues to management to highlight risks and propose mitigating actions.
• Review option productivity, tracking each brand against planned options and ROS to ensure optimum performance. Direct Assistant Merchandisers and TAMs on where the tail needs to be reduced, and work alongside our brand partners to ensure our offer remains relevant while maximising opportunities in overperforming categories and brands.
• Manage key analytical reporting for the department, such as category analysis and CTD/BTA brand tracking, to ensure we make well-informed decisions.
• Use the Mirakl platform, dashboard, and Insights to ensure suppliers meet delivery SLAs while monitoring supplier incident and return rates.
• Review P&L alongside the Senior Merchandiser to ensure profitability by brand, supporting the investigation of low-profit brands, recommending actions to improve performance, and implementing them where needed.
• Complete the trading calendar, with promotional activity aligned to the sales plan and successful historic events, as well as company promotions where suitable.
• Take an active role in strategy planning and meetings, demonstrating an understanding of lessons learned and how to drive the department forward.
• Create strong working relationships with key functions across the business, such as E-commerce, Marketing, Retail, Customer Services, and Finance teams, to ensure alignment across Matalan on the end-to-end process.
• Act as a role model for personal growth while supporting and encouraging career development and progression.
• Coach and develop trainees and assistants within the team.

About You To find the best people for our Merchandising teams, we’d like you to have the following....

• Knowledge of dropship or experience of working with external brands is desirable but not essential.
• Experience at AM or JM level
• Ability to think commercially.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Experience of development and coaching.
• Ability to work independently with a proactive mindset.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability and confidence to communicate at all levels.

Benefits In addition to competitive salaries, we also offer the below core benefits:

• 20% staff discount, which increases with length of service
• Thrive Recognition Scheme
• Wellbeing support provided by the Retail Trust
• Life Assurance
• Retail Rewards platform offering discounts for other retailers
• Pension Scheme
• Access to a wide range of career development
• Additional benefits may apply depending on your role and area of the business