Merchandising Specialist

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Merchandiser to join our successful Merchandising team at DCK Group in our Billericay office.

This is a full-time position with a split between home/remote and the office in Billericay.

• Work alongside Buying, Design, and Host teams to define and develop the vision and strategy of the brand, 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. 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 department forward with a profitability focus, aligning to DCK and Host Strategy where appropriate.
• Continuously review the P&L for the department 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.
• 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.
• Rforecast sales, stock, intake, and markdown in the WSSI and line cards in readiness for WSSI review.
• 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.
• Encourage a culture of transparency, accessibility, regularity, and clear direction.
• Coach and guide team members, continually providing clear and transparent feedback in terms of their performance.
• Always lead by example. Exert and display behaviours aligned to DCK's DNA values.
• Conduct regular 1-2-1's with direct reports.
• Help the team see the 'bigger picture'.
• Develop the team to succeed in their roles and prepare for future roles.

• Exceptional analytical abilities and clarity of thought.
• Excellent Attention to detail.
• Vision, initiative and creativity.
• Great communication skills.
• Drive to deliver results.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate competently and clearly.
• Strong organisational and task management skills, demonstrate agility with the ability to prioritise and work in a fast moving, reactive business with multiple deadlines resulting in effective delivery.
• Always act with trust and integrity.
• Respects and is respected by peers and builds strong relationships within wider functions.
• Demonstrates self-awareness and looks for opportunities to better oneself.

• Opportunity to work for a leading independent global fashion business.
• Be part of a welcoming, friendly business that promotes learning and developing from day one.
• Work-from-home opportunities and flexible working hours, to help you develop a healthy work-life balance.
• Early finish every Friday.
• Heavily staff discounted fashion and jewellery allowance.
• 25 days holiday (+bank holidays and the ability to buy 5 more days).
• Free Parking.
• Free refreshments and fruit with lunch on us once a week.
• Community Group Social Events.
• Plus, many more additional benefits.