Senior Merchandising Manager

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Job Summary

To assist with planning and selecting a commercially viable range of products and accessories for designated product categories to support the Company’s strategy and budget objectives, thus sustaining turnover, quality and service levels whilst achieving gross margin objectives. To manage the supply chain to maximize product availability and stock productivity.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage local range plans, utilizing the plan submitted by the Regional Buyers/ Merchandise Managers for assigned product category, in support of the Company’s strategic, tactical, and short-term objectives, including analysis of cost, monitoring and the pricing of products within the range, in consultation with the Regional Merchandise Managers.
• Manage the range profiles by store ensuring that each store has a balanced portfolio of brands, new and established models to appeal to a cross section of customer lifestyles.
• Execute action plans agreed with Regional Buyers/ Merchandise Managers, including implementation of pricing strategy and maintaining the local range plan and store profiles at least quarterly; conducting visiting all branches to ensure effective displays, space allocation and range compliance at all points of sale.
• Work closely with Regional Buyers/ Merchandise Managers to develop annual monthly sales plan by SKU to achieve the budgeted sales and gross margin objectives and conduct at least monthly reviews to ensure plans reflect current trends.
• Conduct ongoing SKU management and make recommendations to achieve sales plans including submission of accurate monthly product forecasts and Out of Order Forms (OOF) in accordance with supplier lead times and Open to Buy (OTB) parameters for approval by Regional Buyers/Merchandise Managers and Commercial Director. This will include the monitoring of pending Purchase Orders (POs) and recommending proactive measures to ensure that all sales and stock budgets are achieved. 
• Work closely with Regional Buyers/Merchandise Managers to bring traffic to our stores from both existing and new customers through product innovation in existing product categories, and new categories. 
• Provide the relevant information for the management of pricing tickets, coordinating with local sales team to executive price changes and promotions at stores level.
• Visit warehouses/storage areas to visually assess stockholding, stock rotation and storage conditions and feedback relevant information to Regional Buyers/ Merchandise Managers to inform appropriate decisions.
• Liaise with warehouse on stocking issues including prioritization of container lists; manages No Stock Lists from warehouse and advises arrival dates or alternatives.
• Monitor, manage and minimizes aged stock, slow moving and discontinued lines (in line with set targets) throughout the business.
• Partner with the Marketing and Operations functions to ensure that Sales Marketing and Logistics (SML) agreements are executed including supplying product nominations for primary and secondary marketing campaigns and evaluating results to ensure Sales, penetration and GMROI objectives are met.
• Manage a portfolio of preferred local suppliers to ensure that designs reflect market trends, establish ongoing processes to ascertain and monitor supplier capability to meet Unicomer’s volume, quality and service requirements, taking into account the need to build and maintain ‘first class’ supplier relationships.
• Monitor product failures and work closely with Regional Merchandising and Technical Service to resolve any technical service issues including product recalls to ensure all products are within the company targets.
• Review and interpret competitor marketing activity and the overall trading environment, including online activity, ensuring coherent and timely feedback to the Regional Buyers/Merchandise Managers to ensure appropriate responses and maintain competitive position in the market.
• Assist with all new store openings and refits, including store design fixtures and fittings, merchandising, and marketing activity and monitors the market and develops strategies to target newly emerging opportunities or to target possible profitable markets being developed by competitors.
• Assist branches where necessary with price pledge policies including potential claims and ensures all new product prices and bullet points are entered promptly in the POS software.
• Assist with the development of partnerships with regards to increasing sales of assigned categories; identify prospective customers and new business opportunities through market research, data analysis and by following market leads/feedback from existing customers and stakeholders.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies Required:

• Knowledge of supply chain management and sourcing strategies.
• Ability to plan and replenish a range plan and forecast sales, amending plans and generating orders in response to observed trends and demand shifts, as necessary.
• Ability to develop a balanced range plan and structure and modify range plans in accordance to customer demand, competitor analysis and market trends.
• Ability to manage and prioritize a demanding workload.
• Ability to use own initiative and work independently.
• Ability to work within a team and support other team members.
• Commercial awareness and Commercial/Business Acumen.
• Ability to prioritize and influence integrated solutions in response to market intelligence and data.
• Strong numerical skills with passion for retail and products.
• Strong personal drive and action orientation with a focus on results with the ability to drive local execution and manage performance in line with business objectives.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Demonstrate ability to lead the efforts of direct reports toward functional excellence in country.
• Analytical with problem solving and decision-making skills.
• The ability to think strategically.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to develop sound marketing briefs.
• Attention to detail.

 Education and Experience Required:

• Tertiary level education, preferably a degree in Business Administration/Supply Chain Management or related subject.
• Five (5) years’ experience in a similar environment in multinational import and logistics management.
• Strong computer literacy, including Microsoft Office.
• Capability to thrive in a fast-paced and highly demanding environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills, including written and verbal communication, especially in developing positions/preparing reports and presentations for Executive Management.
• A minimum of three (3) years’ management experience.