Frame Recruitment Looking for Head of Merchandise, Fashion and Lifestyle Apparel at Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand Full Time

• Work with an authentic and aspiring team
• Central Christchurch city office with parking
• Work-life balance working from home one day each week

Are you ready to elevate your career and be the driving force behind one of New Zealand’s iconic sports and lifestyle brands? As Head of Merchandise, you will play a pivotal role in crafting brand identity and fuelling business growth.

Leading the charge amongst a fun and dynamic team of 5, the overarching role components will be to execute buying strategies across all brands and product ranges ensuring the merchandise aligns with brand ethos whilst being commercially focused.

Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, you will forecast future demand, anticipate trends and refine purchase specifications. You will identify opportunities for investment optimisation and ensure seamless communication with various departments.

You will be responsible for:

• Develop and execute seasonal product plans aligned with the brand vision and objectives
• Present plans to the Executive Team for approval, covering trends, colours, brands, and consumer demand
• Evaluate supplier options, identify new product opportunities, and lead seasonal buy, analysis, and markdown planning
• Adjust buying strategies based on performance data and create stock-related action plans to improve overall business performance
• Provide leadership to support the Merchandising Team, comprising Buyers, Planners, and Assistants
• Ensure effective processes are implemented for team motivation and development whilst adhering to company core values and guidelines

To be successful in the role, you will have:

• Demonstrated experience in merchandise buying and planning, including creating seasonal product plans
• Proven ability to provide leadership, managing your team towards development and increased performance
• Experience in using performance data to adjust buying strategies, develop stock-related action plans, and enhance overall business performance
• Proficiency in negotiating and managing trading terms, with the capability to build effective relationships with suppliers, support office, franchises, and store teams
• Effective communication, maintaining positive and cooperative relationships across all team networks