Junior Merchandiser – Own Brand Baby and Childrenswear and Accessories

About the role

Would you like to work for an iconic brand?
Are you great at analysing data and building relationships?
Do you have experience in range planning?

If so, this might be the perfect role for you!

We are looking for a Junior Merchandiser to join the Baby/Kid's Own Brand Clothing & Accessories Team

You will use your analytical and commercial skills to plan and optimise the best range for customers within your category. You will work under the guidance of the Category Lead to deliver your agreed KPIs, including sales, profit, stock, SKUs, availability, margin and risk management.

You will maximise opportunities as they arise and lead the in-season trading to potentialise the outcome for both customers and your category.

You will task manage Merchandising Assistant/s relevant to your product category, ensuring they have clear guidelines to fulfil their role.

You will analyse commercial inputs to develop, with the Buyer, the best range of products supported by an effective and comprehensive range planning and pricing architecture to deliver market-leading assortments.

In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £4.50 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.

• Salary - £32,600.00 - £50,500.00 is the full pay band; From April 2026 this will change to £34,000 to £ 51,500.00

• However, we are looking for candidates up to £46K, depending on experience

• Contract type - This is a Permanent role

• 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 Merchandising team work 3 days a week in the office.

• Location - This role is based at our Pimlico Head Office campus. 

Key responsibilities

• You will be accountable for accurately planning and forecasting sales, stock, profit and SKUs for your category with the support of the L6 Merchandiser and Trade Planning team,

• You will be accountable for the commercial and customer success of a product range through range planning and agile in-season trading, using analysis and reporting from Product Operations.

• Through the Merchandising Assistants, you will manage the flow of stock for your office, controlling inventory levels and open to buy. You are accountable for maximising availability across channels whilst minimising inventory holding costs and other supply chain costs.

• You will work at pace and with agility within a collaborative environment with your Merchandiser, Buyer, Head of Merchandising, Supply Chain, Trade Planning, sourcing, Trading Operations team, Design and Product Technology. Externally, you will hold a strong relationship with your supplier and Brands.

• With support from your L6 Merchandiser, you will be accountable for forecasting assortment Sales, Stock and Margin KPIs, deciding Open To Buy parameters that meet commercial and customer targets

• In collaboration with Buying, you will need to make seasonal trading and volume decisions along with the commercial terms and product lifecycle with the suppliers.

• You will Task Manage relevant Merchandising Assistant partner/s in your team.

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Essential skills/experience you’ll need 

• Experience in Category Areas/Brands/Pwn Brands

• Experience in Forecasting & Planning, WSSI management, influencing & stakeholder management

• Experience in BTA preparation, margin modelling and flow planning

• Ability to demonstrate experience in merchandising practices, including assortment planning and stock management

• Strong Analytical and Numerical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel or similar analytical tools

• Proficiency in reporting tools such as Business Intelligence, Tableau

• Communication and Presentation Skills

• Understanding of Retail Operations and Supply Chain Management

• Proactive Approach to Learning and Development

Internal use only:

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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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