Head of Merchandising

About the Role

As the Head of Merchandising, you will lead and guide the Merchandising teams, providing support and strategic direction to the Buying departments in making commercial, analytical, and trend-driven decisions. Your role is to serve as a leader and model exemplary practices in merchandising at Primark, fostering a culture centered on both innovation and commercial success.

Key Responsibilities

• Inspire commercial awareness within your team, enabling them to monitor and respond to regional market nuances, competitor movements, and customer needs.
• Coach and develop teams to apply insights related to product range development and store offerings.
• Manage forecasting and trading by overseeing reporting tools, ensuring accuracy, and leading data-informed decision-making.
• Conduct regular trading reviews with merchandising and buying teams to optimize sales and manage stock effectively.
• Set clear strategic priorities focused on trend identification and sales growth opportunities, communicating these plans effectively to senior management.
• Enhance product knowledge and competitor understanding among teams to drive sales while balancing new innovations with product continuity.
• Lead, mentor, and cultivate a high-performing team aligned with merchandising strategies and organizational goals, promoting employee engagement and clarity of purpose.
• Forge strong collaborative relationships within Primark, building trust and partnerships to align on strategic objectives and drive successful product ranges.
• Continuously identify new opportunities to improve the value offering, while managing department sales, markdowns, stock turns, and contribution budgets.

Requirements

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in merchandising, including at least 5 years in senior management roles.
• A relevant qualification in fashion, commerce, or equivalent professional experience.
• Proven track record in successfully implementing merchandising strategies and plans.
• Strong leadership abilities, including coaching, guiding, target-setting, performance reviews, and engaging teams for high achievement.
• Experience in building effective relationships and managing stakeholder engagement at executive levels.
• An innovative mindset, coupled with the ability to challenge existing processes without compromising business performance.
• Exceptional negotiation skills and experience managing supplier relationships.

Benefits and Work Environment

• Annual leave of 27 days plus public holidays, with the option to purchase an additional 5 days.
• Flexible working arrangements including early finishes on Fridays and access to a subsidized cafeteria.
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits, pension scheme, and eligibility for a performance-based bonus.

Company Overview

Primark values its people as the foundation of its success, growing from a single store in Dublin in 1969 to a major retailer with a turnover exceeding £9 billion, more than 80,000 employees, and over 440 stores in 17 countries worldwide. The company culture emphasizes care, dynamism, and teamwork.

Additional Information

If you require reasonable adjustments or accessibility accommodations during the recruitment process—such as extended time, breaks during assessments, or interpretation services—please contact the talent acquisition specialist for assistance.