Senior Merchandise Planning Manager

Job Introduction

We are looking for a Senior Merchandise Planning Manager to join the Commercial team at cardfactory to cover maternity leave on a 12 month fixed term basis.  In this exciting role, your work will be instrumental in helping to drive business objectives to maximise sales whilst protecting profit across cardfactory’s OMNI channels.

Reporting into the Head of Merchandising you will work closely with Buying and Design teams to plan and trade ranges, ensuring in-season activity delivers planned sales, margin and stock targets. You will manage the planning and budgeting process, creating appropriate sale strategy & tactics to suit trading conditions.  

As a commercial and strategically minded professional you will be able to inspire and motivate the team, enabling them to maximise their potential and achieve success with your coaching and development.

We operate smart working principles at cardfactory, combining some days working from our support centre in Wakefield (1-2 a week) with some days working remotely from home.

Main Responsibilities

• Managing stock, critical path, deliveries and Mark down plans.
• Managing WSSI and flex to trading patterns to potentialise full price sales and minimise markdown.
• Understand and implement the company strategy, developing departmental strategies with internal teams and peers.
• Strong trading mentality with events, trading and promotions to drive sales and deliver against the plan. Lead weekly departmental trade meetings
• Regularly review risks and opportunities to increase sales and profit.
• Build Business Relationships with clear communication and strong collaboration.
• Strong collaboration with all functions, especially Retail, Warehouse, Manufacturing, Marketing & Finance to maximise profitability 
• Team management and mentoring junior colleagues.

The Ideal Candidate

This role will suit a leader with strong stakeholder management skills to manage relationships up to CCO level.

• Demonstrate commercial and financial awareness
• Proven track record & recent comparable experience in a merchandising role including multi-channel experience
• Demonstrate the delivery of results as an individual and within a team
• Ability to challenge & work under pressure in a fast-moving dynamic retail environment
• Product, Market knowledge & Customer focus
• Robust commercial, analytical, problem solving & presentation skills
• Strong communicator & networker with the confidence to influence & engage at all levels
• Experience of developing high performing teams and able to lead a team through ambiguity in a constantly changing environment

About The Company

Card Factory is the UK’s leading specialist retailer of greeting cards, dressings, and gifts with over one thousand stores across the UK and Ireland.  In 2020 we launched our exciting 5-year business strategy including our vision of becoming a true Omni-channel retailer.  This strategy sees significant investment into our colleagues across the business creating multiple opportunities to join a fast-paced environment and be part of our exciting journey.  

In return, we offer a wide range of benefits to support your physical, mental, and financial well-being.

Benefits

• 25% Card Factory colleague discount in-store and online
• Save As You Earn scheme
• Financial Wellbeing Support       
  • Financial Education Tools
  • Salary Advance
• Seasonal incentive schemes
• Opportunity to apply for Retail Apprenticeships
• Access to blended learning and development content
• Discounted mobile phone contracts
• Discounts across 100’s of UK retailers
• Employee Assistance Programme – access to tools to support mental, physical, and financial wellbeing

This is an exciting role with genuine prospects for the right candidate. If this role describes you and your career aspirations, click apply now.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once sufficient suitable applications have been received. We advise applying early to avoid disappointment as applications will be reviewed regularly. 

No agencies, please.