Asst Merchandiser - Outlets 12 month FTC

Working closely with Merchandising and Buying, this role supports the planning and delivery of the department, from forecasting and intake to markdown activity and in-season trade. It is all about using insight to spot opportunities, respond to risk and help the team make the best decisions for the business and the customer.

From maintaining key planning tools and trade analysis to supporting range reviews and seasonal planning, this role keeps the team informed, organised and ready to act. By building strong partnerships with Sourcing and Supply Chain, it helps keep delivery on track and ensures decisions are supported by accurate data and clear insight.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working at pace, brings strong commercial judgement and is confident using data to make decisions. With the chance to work across teams and make a visible contribution to performance, it offers real scope to grow, add value and help shape the success of the UK Outlets business.

NB This is a 12 month Fixed Term role based at our Paddington Support Office a minimum of three days a week

What you’ll do

Your key accountabilities will include:

• Supporting the delivery of department strategy through ownership of sales, stock and intake forecasts, ensuring strong availability and effective markdown management across the Outlets channel
• Analysing in-season trade to identify opportunities and risks, taking action with cross-functional teams to maximise sales and optimise stock performance
• Partnering with Merchandising and Buying teams to build and execute quarterly range and intake plans, ensuring the right products and quantities are delivered at launch and throughout the season
• Leading key planning activity, including range reviews, lessons learned and maintenance of accurate planning tools and markdown documentation to support informed decision making
• Managing the end-to-end critical path in collaboration with Sourcing and Supply Chain teams, while maintaining awareness of competitor activity to inform pricing and product strategy

Who you are

Your skills and experience will include

• Strong core merchandising capability, including sales and stock planning, forecasting, intake management and markdown control to drive profitable department performance
• Solid understanding of the end-to-end buy-to-store process, with the ability to manage the critical path and ensure timely delivery across the Outlets operation
• Highly analytical and numerate, with the ability to interpret performance data, identify trends and use insights to inform decisions and maximise sales opportunities
• Confident using systems and tools, with advanced Excel skills and the ability to quickly adapt to new and evolving merchandising technology
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across Buying, Design, Sourcing and wider business teams while managing competing priorities with organisation and pace

What’s in it for you?

Working at M&S means being part of something bigger - helping to deliver quality, value and service to millions of customers every day. We’re inclusive, fast-moving and always evolving, with a strong sense of purpose and a focus on doing the right thing.

Here are just a few of the benefits that make working here even more rewarding:

• 20% colleague discount on all M&S products and many third-party brands for you and someone in your household, available once you’ve completed your probation

• Competitive holiday allowance with the option to buy more

• Strong pension and life assurance to help plan for the future

• Tailored induction and training to support your development from day one

• Exclusive perks and savings through our M&S Choices portal

• Market-leading family policies, including parental, adoption and neonatal leave

• 24/7 wellbeing support, including virtual GP access and mental health services

• One paid volunteer day a year to support a cause that matters to you

Everyone’s welcome

We are ambitious about the future of retail. We’re reinventing, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We’re redefining how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make change happen.

We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together.

If you feel you'd benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.

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