Merchandising Lead – Beauty

We are looking for a Merchandising Lead to join the Beauty Directorate. You will be a highly experienced, commercial, customer focused and strategic individual with experience of Merchandising and Commercial. You will have experience of influencing internal stakeholders. and building Brand relationships.

You will work at pace, with agility, to proactively highlight opportunities within the market to exceed customers expectations.

You are responsible for supporting the development of the strategic direction of Merchandising for your Category in line with the Director of Merchandising’s vision, using your market knowledge and business & customer insight.

• Salary - £65,000.00 - £105,200.00

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• Contract type - This position is a Secondment, starting March 2026 for 12 months only

• Working pattern/flexible working - The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach, meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home-based, upon your personal needs, whilst balancing the needs of the business. The team work 3 days a week in the office to connect and attend key meetings. 

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• Location -  This role is based at our London Head Office campus in Pimlico. Please note, any cost incurred as a result of travel to the office is the responsibility of the successful candidate. There is no travel allowance for this role. There is also a responsibility to visit our John Lewis branches / Suppliers / Trade Shows when necessary. You will be able to claim travel expenses for these journeys. 

Key responsibilities

You will work closely with the Commercial Planning team to provide commercial rigour in planning and forecasting within categories to maximise returns over the short and long term. You will also maximise profitability, through rebate management and optimising working capital.

You have accountability to roll up sales, margin and demand plans through the Merchandising profession and support budgets across your Category to ensure these are robust and deliver against strategy.

As required, you will provide detailed merchandising expertise at the Directorate level, working alongside the Head of Beauty and having significant involvement in upskilling the Merchandisers (L6 & L8) and, where required, the Category Lead (L5). As appropriate, you will task manage the Merchandisers.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Highly Analytical with a Keen Understanding of Merchandising Best Practice

• Strategic Inventory Management:

• Understanding of Global Supply Chains

• Experience in Pricing Strategy and Promotional Activity

• Market Knowledge and Awareness of Trends, Risks, and Opportunities:

• People and Team Management

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Desirable skills/experience you may have 

• Previous Experience in Matrix Leadership Structures

•  Advanced Proficiency in Data Analysis and Forecasting Techniques

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We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.  

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.   

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. 

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. 

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.  

Important points to note:  

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.  

We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview. 

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