Job Description

Working alongside the Buying Manager you will be responsible for delivering key KPIs for multiple departments. We're looking for you to lead with passion and pace.

Some of your responsibilities include:

• Being the top level functional expert for the Merchandising team and actively seeking to solve issues and present solutions to the category director. You will be able to priorities opportunities ensuring actions with the biggest value get completed first and drive this behavior throughout my team.
• To champion, develop and deliver the strategy and sign off for your categories alongside the other managers in the categories. You will drive improved performance and customer experience through exceptional stock management, a strong understanding of our customers, our competitors and market insight.
• Being able to identify, influence, track, react and exploit the opportunities to maximize performance now and in the future.
• Actively forward plan future seasons to create a step change in your categories performance. Ensuring you fully take the learnings and opportunities forward, engaging key stakeholders to plan and execute effectively. Understanding the 'size of the prize' and what it will take to achieve your plan and make it happen.
• Develop and implement new strategies to minimize markdown without compromising cash margin.
• Owning markdown proposals – deliver budgeted margin and quality of stock through carefully analyzing proposals.
• Shaping the sales and margin budget for the financial year balancing stretch and risk of category.
• Challenging risk and identify opportunities in the commercial review meetings.
• Managing the stock budget for your departments and complete monthly stock budget reviews.
• Owning the critical path. Challenging risk and agree actions with the team to ensure that together you achieve on time launch. ü

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

There is an expectation to: Have an expert level of understanding on a variety of product areas in order to drive category strategy including key vendors and Dunelm’s position in the market. Provide insight and analytical thought to shape the longer term sourcing and trading strategy for the department. Own the range plan to drive the right mix on Regular, Promo and EOS and provide recommendations on how to get back to the budget. Sign off the departmental ranking for all new lines. Have ownership of both domestic and FE vendor relationships.