Senior Merchandiser - Sports

Role Summary

The Senior Merchandiser plays a key role in executing and optimizing the merchandising strategy for the Sports division, taking ownership of complex product assortments, stock productivity, and category performance. The role combines commercial planning, data-driven trading, and inventory management to ensure the right products, quantities, and sizes are in the right locations to drive sales, margin, and sell-through. Working cross-functionally with Category Management, Buying, Planning, Allocation, Supply Chain, and Store Operations, the Senior Merchandiser acts as a subject-matter expert and coach for junior merchandising staff.

Role Responsibilities

- Translate category strategy and financial targets into seasonal merchandise plans, including range architecture, option counts, depth, and investment by channel, country, and store cluster
- Build pre-season assortment frameworks (good/better/best, price ladders, category mix) and provide Buying with clear quantitative and qualitative briefs
- Lead post-season and mid-season reviews, identifying lessons learned and embedding them into future plans (assortment, sizing, grading, launch phasing)
- Own merchandise KPIs at category and cluster level (sales, margin, sell-through, WOS, stock turn, markdowns), tracking performance against plan and proposing corrective actions
- Work with Planning and the Category Manager on open-to-buy (OTB) usage, intake phasing, and stock exit strategies to protect both top line and profitability
- Define inventory targets and guardrails for Merchandisers and Allocators (e.g., min/max levels, WOS bands, priority doors) and monitor adherence
- Lead weekly and monthly trading meetings for assigned categories, consolidating inputs from Merchandising, Allocation, and Stores into clear actions (rebuys, cancellations, rephasing, promotions, transfers)
- Use advanced analysis (rate-of-sale, cohort performance, store clusters, size curves) to recommend targeted actions rather than blanket decisions
- Propose commercial actions such as markdown strategies, promo mechanics focus, and product re-positioning to unlock demand or clear non-performing stock
- Act as the senior point of contact for Merchandisers and Allocators on category priorities, parameters, and ways of working
- Provide direction on which products, stores, and channels to prioritize, ensuring execution by Merchandisers and Allocators is aligned with category strategy
- Partner with the Category Manager, Buying, Supply Chain, and Store Operations to drive end-to-end alignment from pre-buy through to exit
- Develop and maintain robust reporting packs for category performance, synthesizing data from SAP, Excel, and BI tools into concise insights and scenarios for leadership
- Identify structural issues (e.g., grading, size curves, minimum order quantities) and work with the Category Manager and Planning to implement medium- to long-term fixes
- Champion process and system improvements within merchandising, standardizing best practice across Merchandisers and Allocators

Technical / Functional Competencies

- Strong analytical skills, leveraging advanced tools to monitor inventory levels, sales performance, and market trends
- Understanding of customer behavior and purchasing patterns to guide data-driven product selection and promotional strategies
- Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple product categories, tasks, and deadlines effectively
- Strong communication abilities, ensuring clear and efficient collaboration with cross-functional internal teams and external partners, including suppliers
- Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP preferred) and advanced Excel for reporting and analysis
- Sound decision-making abilities to respond to changing market demands and operational challenges
- Consistently upholds GMG's merchandising standards and contributes to the team's overall efficiency and success

Experience / Qualification

- Bachelor's degree in Business; a degree in Retail Management is preferred
- Postgraduate qualification is advantageous
- 6 years of experience in merchandising roles
- Experience in the sports retail industry
- Experience in inventory management
- Certifications (advantageous): Certified Retail Merchandiser, Advanced Excel Certificate, SAP ERP Certification, Data Analysis Certificate, Project Management Certificate