Merchandise Manager

About our culture

The Works is such a welcoming place to… well… work! Our atmosphere is supportive, friendly and inclusive. A second home-from-home where you can be your best and authentic you.

We’ve built an environment that’s busy, always moving, and full of energy. Yet we still make space to share must-watch TV recommendations and our favourite page-turners!

We’re a proactive and hardworking bunch who are dedicated to inspiring and empowering our customers to read, learn, create and play. It’s the perfect place for people who know how to roll their sleeves up, get creative, and put their passion and imagination to work… we’re people who ‘do’!

If you’re the kind of person who is as ’crafty’, ‘caring’ and ‘can-do’ as we are, then this is the kind of culture for you.

About the role

We’re looking for a Merchandising Manager to join our Merchandising team here at The Works!  You’ll sit within our Supply Chain function and play a key part in a new team structure. 

Overview of Merchandising

Not to be confused with Visual Merchandising, we are the backbone and engine room of Merchandising – spotting trends, diving into the analytics and data to ensure the right stock is in the right place at the right time. Working cross-functionally with our retail stores, web, buying, finance and distribution teams, here you will get a well-rounded experience and insight into all departments to get amazing exposure across the business.

We’re future proofing our structure so that we’re able to play with the big boys in the retail space. We’ll be thoughtful, well-planned, strategic and use proper analytics to make sure we’re spotting and ahead of the trends. You’ll be working across all the strategic elements, right through to getting the product on the floor and onto our e-commerce channel. It’s not just products or numbers though, it about the products and how they inspire our customers to read, learn, create or play!

You can put your stamp on the department with the freedom to succeed and the freedom to fail – so long as we learn and develop along the way. Everything is up for grabs to help develop a new function in the size of this opportunity. With the proper structure, loads of development, career progression ladders and autonomy in the role… you genuinely can make a difference!

Key responsibilities

• Create and implement a customer driven department strategy in line with the commercial vision agreed with senior stakeholders with clearly defined and measurable initiatives.
• Working within stock budgets to ensure stock is maintained throughout the year at the correct levels, ensuring critical path enables outstanding availability through peak periods i.e. new product range launches, Christmas, promotion periods etc.
• Accountable for order management in line with agreed parameters and critical path, pro actively working with suppliers to gain maximum flexibility.
• Proactively manage inbound and outbound stock flow, understanding the impact on supply, logistics and retail teams and communicating issues where appropriate
• Drive Departments to ensure sales, stock holding, margin and availability is optimised.
• Manage and review WSSI at Product group level, providing clear exception reporting on sales stock, availability and profit.
• Plan category and range frameworks, presenting product ranges as a cross functional team for sign off, with clear presentation on key metrics for sign off to support the department strategy.
• Review attribute analysis to drive range reviews and promotional analysis providing clear recommendations
• Lead weekly trading performance meetings to identify issues and opportunities, providing clear actions to maximise profitability, engaging cross functionally for support as required.
• Deliver the sales in line with budget and agreed strategy, proactively managing opportunities and risks.
• Coach and develop the team to potentialise performance.
• Key support to the Head of Merchandising in key business cross functional projects.

 

The sought-after experience we’re seeking

• Strong numerical skills and ability to analyse and interpret data with recommendations
• Demonstrable experience of working in a fast-paced trading environment
• Recent comparable experience, with a proven track record, in either a Merchandise Manager role, or an experienced Senior Merchandiser looking for your next challenge
• Proven ability to lead a high performing team, develop, coach and navigate change
• Demonstrate delivery of results as an individual and as part of a team

Finally, the bit about The Works

We are working towards our ambition of becoming one of the most loved retailers in the UK and the go-to place for reading, learning, creativity and play. We believe in the importance of fun and fulfilment and taking time out to do the things you love.

With 525 stores nationwide and a strong multi-channel proposition, our mission is to offer a unique and enjoyable shopping experience, built on core principles of value, variety and quality.

We’re super proud to be certified as two star ‘Outstanding to work for’ via Best Companies for three years running and a Sunday Times 2020 Top 25 Best Big Companies to work for.

What we will give to you!

• 25% off colleague discount in-store and online (Often increased to 50% off for seasonal offers!)
• 33 days holiday (Inclusive of Bank Holidays)
• Holiday Purchase scheme to increase your annual leave entitlement by 5 extra days per year
• Access to our MyWorks reward platform which has thousands of exclusive online discounts across hundreds of well-known retailers, utilities, holidays and much more!
• Hybrid working – This varies by department, but typically we’re working to 1 or 2 days per week in the office
• Save As You Earn (SAYE) scheme. Become a shareholder and buy your own piece of The Works by buying shares at an exclusive discounted rate direct-from-salary
• Company pension contribution
• Can-Do Academy – Instant access to training and development programmes when it suits you
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Employee Health, Wellbeing and Financial support through the Retail Trust and our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – Because you matter!
• Life Assurance
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Free Car Parking when on-site at our Support Centre
• Optional Charity Giving schemes – Pennies from Heaven and Give as you Earn