Merchandise Manager - GAP - 12 month FTC

Role Purpose

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Merchandiser / Merchandise Manager to join our Gap team. In this role, you will be a vital  part of the Gap UK team, bringing the financial strategy behind our product vision to life, across multiple channels. You will lead the Merchandise Planning team in developing and executing strategies for multiple divisions and product categories, aligning with company goals, market trends, and Gap brand identity.

Role Responsibilities

• Develop and implement merchandise strategies to maximize sales and profitability across our product categories within the UK market.
• Collaborate with buyers and to develop commercial plans that inform assortment selection, and OTB.
• Oversee seasonal sales forecasts at the channel, divisional, and season code levels, and proposes strategies to achieve sales and inventory objectives.
• Manage the full product lifecycle from concept to launch, including product buys, stock management  and promotional activities.
• Co-ordinate with trade teams, marketing, and store  teams to ensure a cohesive strategy across channels that reflect seasonal commercial plans.
• Present weekly and quarterly trade meetings, providing a summary of performance and outlining actionable strategies for continuous improvement.
• Monitor inventory levels and work with the supply chain teams to optimize stock rotation and minimize obsolescence.
• Analyze sales data, market trends, and competitor activities to identify opportunities and inform buying decisions.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of merchandisers, cultivating a high-performance culture.
• Continuously evolve planning processes and tools to meet the needs of a dynamic retail environment, driving efficiency and performance.

Role Requirements

• Merchandise planning experience, with a proven track record of delivering results.
• Experience managing direct reports, including coaching, development, and performance management.
• Proficient in Excel, Google Sheets including data manipulation and advanced formulas; comfortable navigating planning systems and tools.
• Demonstrates strong business acumen and strategic agility, with the ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Builds effective, collaborative relationships across diverse teams and time zones; believes in the power of teamwork and partnership.
• Self-starter with strong problem-solving skills, able to assess complex situations, analyze data, and drive solutions with speed and creativity.
• Strong communicator, with excellent listening, written, and verbal skills; able to clearly present ideas and influence stakeholders.
• Thrives in a self-directed role, using initiative and resourcefulness to achieve goals and resolve issues independently.

In 2021, Next and Gap were delighted to enter into a joint venture, trading the well-loved Gap brand within the UK. We are looking for Merchandise Assistants to be part of the joint venture business supporting the brand operating within the Next PLc group.
Today, Gap is represented globally in more than 1400 stores in over 40 countries, and online with headquarters in New York, London, Shanghai, Tokyo and San Francisco. Our clothing celebrates modern optimistic American style, rich in heritage, crafted with care, where our essentials are iconic, and quality endures. We stand for inclusivity for all; we champion diverse ideas that transcend generations, geographies, and genders. We do more than make clothing, we shape culture.
If you have ideas, are creative, talented and want to work with other phenomenal people, leaving the world a little better than how we have found it, we'd love to meet you.