Senior Merchandiser

**Senior Merchandiser - Hybrid - Fashion**

We are pleased to have a fantastic opportunity available for a Senior Merchandiser (Planner) to join our successful Merchandising team at DCK in our Billericay office

**This is a full-time position working hybrid between our Billericay Head Office and remotely.**

DCK Group a global leader in the design, supply of fashion jewellery and accessories. #pride

Here at DCK our people are central to everything we do. We are welcoming, friendly and have a culture that promotes learning and development from day one. #care #community

Diversity, equality and inclusion are the core of who we are and reflect this in every aspect of our company culture, DCK DNA.

**Role Purpose;**

To lead the Merchandise plan for your Retailer, controlling Open To Buy (OTB), stock, range, shape and options in line with the critical path.

To directly, proactively and consistently enable optimal decisions relating to maximum profitability and contribute to overall brand strategy. Work with the Trader to balance the use of data and analysis with strong commercial acumen and awareness of the market and the consumer**.**

**You will;**
- Develop and plan the strategy for the Retailer - making profitable decisions and looking for commercial gains to maximise the potential of the brand.
- Ownership of the WSSI- forecast sales and OTB seeking opportunities to optimise options and space.
- Seasonal Planning - Effectively plan for the season to grow profitability, managing in-season forecasts and reacting to current trade.
- Work alongside Partner Buying, Buying, Design and Host to define and develop the vision and strategy of the Retailer, new initiatives must be put forward and planned in line with the critical path.
- Manage Critical path timelines and key milestone deadlines to ensure they are achieved, using all agreed planning documents. Manage workload in line with the priorities of your brand and ensure there is regular and effective communication with the Merchandise Manager.
- Drive Building Blocks and Strategy for the Retailer forward with a profitability focus, aligning to DCK and Host Strategy where appropriate.
- Continuously review the P&L for the Retailer and action discussions to highlight the full potential of your brand proposing the steps required to achieve this, using analytics to propose a solution.
- Use the systems available to establish clear and profitable Assortment Plans, along with BEVs and phasing, balancing newness, consolidated lines and sell-through, taking into account sales and profit density.
- Sign off strategy and budgets with the Senior team.
- Ensure accurate and timely pre-season planning based on the strategy and agreed targets. Opportunities are maximised and risk is mitigated, with a concise summary and action plan relayed to the business.
- Own the WSSI for sales forecasting and OTB. Reforecast sales, stock, intake, and markdown in the WSSI and line cards in readiness for WSSI review
- Quantify Building Blocks through data and articulate them to the business with confidence.
- Complete Seasonal Planning including Assortment Planning/Option Planning and Range Planning thoroughly to a high standard showing a clear understanding of how options, newness and grading can be optimised to grow profitability.
- Maximise Space/Options at all times, highlighting risks and opportunities with clear action points to support.
- Manage the Seasonal OTB, devising and agreeing the option count and phasing in line with the Assortment Plan and communicate to Buying Team within deadline
- initiatives are brought to the business and delivered.
- Set Stock requirements to achieve sales and profit plans, by Total and Branch stocks, FP and MD, top down and bottom up within agreed timeframes.
- Stock levels are aligned to DCK & Host strategy and opportunities and risks are presented alongside measurable actions. Stock is maintained within the plan parameters and in line with Terminal Stock Targets, clear communication is given to the Merchandise Manager.
- Undertake accurate in-season forecasting to reflect current trading conditions, highlight risks and opportunities and feed into the planner.
- Review OTB/OTC requirements, reacting to reforecasts and current trading whilst keeping within stock requirements
- With Buying, highlight margin risks to the business and suggest actions to bring back to plan
- Gather information from hosts such as footfall, customer insights, changes in their business that would impact our performance and action required changes
- Identify opportunities and use analytics to solve. This includes optimisation of options, ranging, price, stores, and VM, driving the business through data and analysis to lead Buying and Partner decisions.
- Manage the team, ensuring clear priorities and consistent ways of working
- Explore all opportunities to drive the success of the team using data and analytics tools, helping the team see the ‘bigger picture’
- Enco