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’re recruiting a number of Junior Merchandisers across the following departments

Baby and Children’s Own Brand

Hosiery and Lingerie

Mens Brands

These roles are fixed-term until the end of January 2026.

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 your L5 Merchandising Manager, or where applicable, L6 Merchandiser, 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 effective and comprehensive range planning and pricing architecture to deliver market leading assortments.

• Salary - £32,600.00 - £50,500.00

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• Contract type - We have various fixed-term/secondment opportunities.

• 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 aim for a minimum of around 2 days a week in the office to connect and on a more ad-hoc basis to attend key meetings but again, are flexible on this. 

• 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 the Merchandising Manager L5 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 Merchandising Manager L5, 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 L5 Merchandising Manager, or where applicable, 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 season 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.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need 

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

• 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

• Communication and Presentation Skills

• Understanding of Retail Operations and Supply Chain Management

• Proactive Approach to Learning and Development

The Partnership

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 also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.  

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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