Senior Merchandiser

Role Overview

The Senior Merchandiser (Commercial Manager) handles driving profitable growth through effective merchandise planning, trading analysis, strategic sourcing, supplier management, and inventory optimisation. This role combines commercial merchandising expertise with procurement and supplier relationship management to ensure the business delivers the right products, at the right price, at the right time.

Working cross-functionally with Product, Ecommerce, Marketing, Operations, Customer Experience, and external suppliers, the role will maximise sales performance, maintain healthy stock levels, optimise margins, and support the successful delivery of product launches and promotional campaigns.

Key Responsibilities

Merchandising & Commercial Trading

• Produce and present weekly trade reports, providing actionable insights and recommendations to key stakeholders.

• Manage and maintain the WSSI, monitoring OTB, sales performance, stock risks, and commercial opportunities.

• Determine buy levels by season, category, and supplier to support sales and inventory objectives.

• Monitor best and worst sellers, identifying rebuys, rephases, cancellations, and markdown opportunities.

• Review historical performance and trading data to inform future seasonal strategies and assortment planning.

• Support new product launches and promotional activity, ensuring stock availability aligns with planned launch dates.

• Review and recommend pricing, markdown, and promotional strategies to optimise sales and stock productivity.

Procurement & Supplier Management

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies that optimise cost, quality, availability, and delivery performance.

• Lead supplier negotiations for pricing, contracts, and long-term commercial agreements.

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, ensuring high levels of service, quality, and compliance.

• Resolve supplier issues relating to quality, delivery, pricing, or compliance.

• Collaborate with suppliers to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve commercial performance.

Commercial & Financial Management

• Monitor and optimise intake margins across product categories, ensuring alignment with financial targets.

• Identify commercial risks and opportunities, recommending actions to maximise profitability.

• Conduct ad hoc analysis to support strategic decision-making and business planning.

• Provide commercial insights to support pricing, assortment, sourcing, and promotional strategies.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Product, Ecommerce, Marketing, Operations, Planning, and Customer Experience teams.

• Coordinate with planning teams on stock availability, sell-through performance, pricing, and in-season trading.

• Foster strong stakeholder relationships and communicate effectively across all levels of the business.

• Manage multiple projects and priorities while ensuring deadlines and commercial objectives are achieved.

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in merchandising, buying, procurement, sourcing, or a related commercial role within retail or ecommerce.

• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to identify risks, opportunities, and practical solutions.

• Excellent negotiation, supplier management, and contract management skills.

• Advanced analytical skills with strong proficiency in Excel.

• Ability to interpret complex data and present clear recommendations.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Strong organisational and time management abilities with exceptional attention to detail.

• Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

• Proactive, self-motivated, and capable of taking ownership of responsibilities.

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.

• Collaborative approach with the ability to influence cross-functional teams.

Safeguarding

We are dedicated to protecting and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Our Club is committed to maintaining safer recruitment practices. An enhanced DBS check is mandatory for this role.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Coventry City FC proudly champions equal opportunity! We believe in fairness for all, ensuring our recruitment and selection practices respect every individual's unique background. We warmly invite applicants from every background, celebrating diversity in race, nationality, religion, gender, age, and ability.

Join the Sky Blue Army – shaping the future of Coventry City FC on and off the pitch