Product Merchandising Lead

Role Overview

As the Product Merchandising Lead at H&M's Toronto office, you will primarily bridge product merchandising, commercial teams, and allocation functions. Your focus will be on ensuring precise stock planning, transparent demand insights, and efficient product replenishment throughout various markets, guaranteeing the right merchandise reaches the right places at the right time.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary liaison collaborating with Sales Market Commercial teams regarding inventory and stock matters to promote robust commercial outcomes.
• Ensure transparency, uniformity, and exchange of best practices across Sales Markets related to product merchandising and commercial execution.
• Critically assess bottom-up demand plans from Sales Markets based on stock levels when needed or upon request.
• Assist Sales Markets in defining and updating price maps that reflect local competitor pricing and stock conditions.
• Oversee supply forecasting aligned with demand, providing relevant insights and recommending corrective actions.
• Determine articles for clearance sales and special channel campaigns in coordination with Sales Markets.
• Collaborate on markdown pricing strategies with Inventory Optimization Leads based on analytical data to manage inventory effectively.
• Monitor and predict returns and damages (R&D) for Sales Markets.
• Analyze outcomes from exit and liquidation cycles and incorporate learnings into future pre-season planning and buying decisions.
• Act as the central contact for designated Sales Markets and warehouses concerning allocation, replenishment, and stock management issues.
• Review stock levels across Sales Markets and evaluate stock-balancing scenarios utilizing analyses from Inventory Leads.
• Manage initial warehouse-to-store allocations aligned with Sales Market strategies, employing AB2.0 methodology.
• Adjust replenishment speeds, as well as managing replenishment blocks or stops for seasonal or predictable stock demands.
• Maintain backstock listings for items to be removed from store floors or pick locations.
• Provide regular reports to Sales Market Commercial teams and Store Managers, ensuring visibility on incoming deliveries and stock status.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Economics, Data Analytics, or related quantitative fields.
• Two to four years of experience in product merchandising, retail planning, or commercial operations within retail, fashion, or FMCG sectors.
• Strong grasp of retail and product merchandising workflows.
• Ability to interpret sales performance and stock data to identify potential improvements.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills to effectively collaborate across markets and continental teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and enthusiasm for business intelligence platforms such as Power BI.
• Detail-focused approach ensuring high accuracy in article tracking and inventory reporting.

Additional Information

• H&M embraces diversity encompassing race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and more.
• The company operates under seven core values that have driven success for over 75 years.
• Access to Colleague Resource Groups (CRGs) offers opportunities for community building and networking.
• The work culture encourages authenticity, allowing you to be yourself.
• Join a vast global talent network fostering limitless career advancement possibilities.
• Comprehensive benefits include health insurance, wellness and family support programs, company-matched 401k, paid leaves including community service days, and other paid time off.
• Employee discounts are available at H&M and affiliated brands such as & Other Stories and COS, supporting personal style expression.

Compensation

The expected salary for this role in Toronto is approximately 113994 Canadian dollars per year. Actual pay may vary depending on candidate qualifications.

Employment Details

This is a salaried, exempt full-time position based onsite in Toronto, Canada.