Senior Merchandiser Strategic Partnerships. 9-12 Month FTC

The Senior Merch is responsible for supporting the Merch Lead in forming and delivering the wholesale strategy in line with the River Island Brand. They are the key point of contact for Wholesale and B&M, responsible for but not exclusive to, buying and merchandising planning and trading across core wholesale accounts. They will work with the partners and merchandising team to shape the buying and merchandising plan They will build strong cross functional working relationships and undertake company projects to support new initiatives. A River Island Senior Merchandiser must successfully train and develop the merchandising teams.

Key Accountabilities:

• Responsible for the core wholesale planning and trading p&l
• Key contact for internal and external counterparts
• Supports in forming and delivering the planning and trading strategy, inclusive of partner and divisional specific strategies.
• Proposes adjustments to immediate and longer-term financial plans to optimise margin and sales, driving the trading performance by Partner
• Trades effectively, always looking at risk and ways to maximise commercial opportunities
• Ensures the wider business have visibility of Wholesale’s sales/ performance at any point in time, supporting the Wholesale Merchandisers to effective manage the Wholesale sales report and the business’s internal sales reporting system/s
• Leads additional reporting information to support the business’s understanding of International performance and each Partner’s KPIs
• Responsible for delivering the planning and trading strategy, managing stocks within planned levels and agreed KPIs, challenging when needed
• Manages Wholesale’s total liable stock position to ensure minimal impact to the business’s terminal stock position
• Ensures management of the department critical path for timely delivery of product
• Responsible for working with the Wholesale SLT to bring forward and drive key initiatives by account and ensure alignment on delivery against the Wholesale strategy in year 1

Key experience required:

• Previous experience at mid level management in a role comprising of multiple stakeholder relationships
• Experience in an omni-channel business is highly desirable
• Proven results in formulating and delivering a strategic plan
• Track record of delivering and exceeding sales and margin targets is essential
• Track record of identifying and delivering on new product opportunities
• Track record of driving strong team and individual performance and engagement
• Advanced Excel skills

Job role competencies:

• Passion for the RI brand and customer
• Excellent verbal and numerical reasoning skills
• Excellent commercial awareness skills
• Advanced analytical skills
• Strong influencing skills
• Manages complexity and able to make sense of complex, high quantity and sometimes contradictory information, to effectively solve problems
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy

About Us:

We’re a much-loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions. This is what a career at River Island is like. And this is where yours starts.

This role is based at our Head Office in West London. Check us out here on a map.

What we can offer you:

💰 Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site!

🛒 Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through the Retail Trust.

🎉 A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill you needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the year.

🤎 Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!

💻 Flexible working is a given, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.

💕 Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding.

🎓 Support with upskilling through on the job training and qualifications. A succession plan if you want to progress.

💰 A generous bonus scheme & private pension plan.

🩺 The choice to opt in for healthcare through our provider AXA.

🚗 An allowance supporting your commute to work.

☀️ 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!

Keeping You Safe

At River Island we are committed to the safeguarding of all of our employees regardless of age or job role. We will fulfil our obligation under the Prevent duty which seeks to stop extremism and extremist views from materialising in our business. We promote and encourage the belief in British Values- including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. To find out more, please visit www.gov.uk.

Our Island is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise. To find out more about this interview process, check out our hiring process below.