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. 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 meetingsRegularly 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. This role will suit a leader with strong stakeholder management skills to manage relationships up to CCO level.Demonstrate commercial and financial awarenessProven track record & recent comparable experience in a merchandising role including multi-channel experienceDemonstrate the delivery of results as an individual and within a teamAbility to challenge & work under pressure in a fast-moving dynamic retail environmentProduct, Market knowledge & Customer focusRobust commercial, analytical, problem solving & presentation skillsStrong communicator & networker with the confidence to influence & engage at all levelsExperience of developing high performing teams and able to lead a team through ambiguity in a constantly changing environment
