Job Description

Assistant Merchandiser

Department: Kidswear

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Head Office, Chelsea House

Reporting To: Jess Lucas

The Merchandising team at River Island play a key role in realising the commercial opportunities created by our unique product across all our channels. The Assistant Merchandiser is responsible for supporting the Merchandising team in delivering the planning and trading strategy, by maximising commercial opportunities through effectively managing stock across all channels, driving sales through improved availability and reducing mark down. The Assistant Merchandiser will manage the Merchandise Admin Assistant on a day to day basis and ensure that their job is completed correctly.

Key Accountabilities:

• Assists the merchandising team with providing accurate, relevant analysis to maximise profit throughout all channels
• Demonstrates commercial awareness through delivering relevant and concise department and category performance, suggesting action or amendments to drive profitability
• Responsible for commitment review by size, maximising sales through availability
• Responsible for the projected intake of flow products, ensuring appropriate levels of stock to sales, in line with cut offs
• Accurate management of stock inventory. Highlighting opportunities and potential risk for all channels
• Accurately maintains Weekly Intake forecasts
• Works alongside the distribution hub to deliver the distribution strategy of stock to all channels, challenging when needed.
• Responsible for ensuring promotions and markdowns are correctly actioned and maintained.
• Accountable for maintaining accurate attribution within single view of product
• Efficient use of all merchandising systems. Assisting in creating new or improving existing material
• Uses all available sources including regular store visits, sales and margin history, comp shops, suggests risks and opportunities, proposing actions to positively impact performance
• Manages the workload of the MAA with a thorough understanding of the performance, escalating to the Merchandiser when needed
• Sets the direction and objectives forthe MAA, providing timely feedback and support to enable them to work to the best of their abilities

Key Experience Required:

• Previous experience at Assistant Merchandiser level, or established Senior Merchandising Admin/Senior Allocator is required
• Experience in an omni-channel business is highly desirable
• Track record of mentoring and developing other team members

Job Role Competencies:

• Good verbal and numerical reasoning skills
• Intermediate MS Office skills
• Computer literate and ability to learn new systems
• Highly organised, good prioritisation skills
• Collaborative, with strong interpersonal skills
• Good commercial and market awareness
• Disciplined and conscientious, results oriented
• Resilient and adaptable
• Curious, continuous learning mindset
• Coaching, mentoring mindset
• Ability to present own views and assert own views
• Good presentation skills

About Us

We’re a much-loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions. This is what a career at River Island is like. And this is where yours starts.

This role is based at our Head Office in West London. Check us out here on a map.

What we can offer you:

💰 Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site!

🛒 Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through the Retail Trust.

🎉 A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill you needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the year.

🤎 Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!

💻 Flexible working is a given, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.

💕 Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding.

🎓 Support with upskilling through on the job training and qualifications. A succession plan if you want to progress.

💰 A generous bonus scheme & private pension plan.

☀️ 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!

Keeping You Safe

At River Island we are committed to the safeguarding of all of our employees regardless of age or job role. We will fulfil our obligation under the Prevent duty which seeks to stop extremism and extremist views from materialising in our business. We promote and encourage the belief in British Values- including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. To find out more, please visit www.gov.uk

Our Island is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise. To find out more about this interview process, check out our hiring process below.