Head of Merchandising jobs
Overseeing the merchandising department, this role often involves working with the UK and international function, where appropriate, to identify new market opportunities and partner relationships.
Head of Merchandising often works closely with Head of Buying in a business to deliver appropriate ranges that are seasonally focused, ensuring key international events and counter-seasonal markets are catered for.
Central to partner communications, Head of Merchandising roles are brand ambassadors in all meetings and negotiations and there is an emphasis on working with the senior leadership team to define and deliver a clear strategy for the future.
This role involves leading and motivating the team to ensure consistently high standards and best practice are maintained across all processes.
The role offers the opportunity to build and consolidate relationships with existing stores, wholesale and franchise partners through on-going communication and delivery of mutual objectives.
The skills required
As Head of Merchandising you will have experience of working within international wholesale and franchise models, with extensive knowledge of buying and merchandising principles and processes. An understanding of global markets is essential as well as the ability to translate customer insight into working practice.
As a skilled communicator you will be a confident negotiator and well versed in relationship building.
Commercial acumen is mandatory as Head of Merchandising as well as the ability to think strategically. In a fast-moving market, resilience is a valued quality as well as being an agile thinker and problem solver.
Head of Merchandising Jobs in Reading
Situated in the Thames Valley where the Thames and River Kennet converge, Reading is a town in south-east England known as a centre of commerce and an excellent choice for those seeking Head of Merchandising vacancies.
The area was first settled in the 8th century, the local abbey was founded in 1121 and by 1538 Reading had become one of the largest towns in the area. The region thrived on the wealth generated by trading cloth until the English Civil War.
With the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, Reading was again making a name for itself, this time with a combination of ironworks and brewing.
The region benefited from improved trade with London due to the building of better roads, the establishment of various railways and the opening of the river to boat traffic. Indeed, the Kennet and Avon canal was opened in 1810, which meant that goods could travel by barge all the way to the Bristol Channel.
Fast forward to today and Reading is a centre for technology, finance and retail.
Top companies headquartered in the town include ING Direct, Yell Group and BG. Meanwhile, Prudential, PepsiCo, Holiday Inn, Bang & Olufsen, Intel, Cisco, Symantec, Nvidia, Virgin Media, Xerox and Verizon all have offices in Reading.
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Search for Head of Merchandising opportunities with Cast UK
As market leading recruitment specialists for professional level merchandising roles, Cast UK is committed to building long-term relationships with our clients, enabling us to understand their business models and the positions they are recruiting.
We get to know the personalities and objectives of each candidate; understanding what motivates them, and the appropriate cultural fit for them. This attention to detail means that we are able to make excellent matches between applicants and employers, making placements that are lasting and mutually rewarding.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Head of Merchandising role for your business or find you a job as Head of Merchandising, contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345
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