Our client is a globally recognised leader in the retail industry, renowned for its strong brand presence and a well-established, rapidly expanding consumer base. With operations spanning multiple markets, we are dedicated to delivering exceptional product offerings and driving growth through innovation, strategic planning, and consumer-centric initiatives.
We are seeking an experienced and dynamic professional to take on a key leadership role overseeing the Buying, Ranging, and Merchandising strategies for both Retail and Franchise channels across Southeast Asia. This role is instrumental in ensuring optimal product selection, aligning in-season activities with strategic objectives, and maximizing profitability through effective stock and margin management. The successful candidate will also spearhead key strategic initiatives, ensuring seamless execution across all SEA markets.
- Global Impact: Play a key role in shaping the merchandising strategy for a leading global retailer.
- Career Growth: Lead and develop high-performing teams in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Strategic Leadership: Drive business performance and influence key stakeholders across SEA markets.
Key Responsibilities
- Partner with the SEA Senior Director and regional merchandising teams to shape and drive the merchandising strategy across the region.
- Lead the execution of merchandising initiatives, ensuring consistency and efficiency in product assortment and sales performance.
- Oversee financial targets, including net sales, sell-through rates, and margin performance, while implementing action plans to achieve key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Drive pre-season planning, including Open-To-Buy (OTB) management, product forecasting, and option planning.
- Collaborate with regional partners to develop and execute assortment planning strategies tailored to retail and franchise stores.
- Continuously review and refine OTB and seasonal buy plans to align with commercial goals and brand vision.
- Enhance and streamline merchandising processes, leveraging best-in-class systems and tools to improve operational efficiency.
- Work closely with the Business Solution Team to implement world-class merchandising practices.
- Define and optimise merchandising methodologies, including option and space management.
- Develop insightful merchandising reports to support data-driven decision-making across SEA markets.
- Monitor in-season stock levels, providing proactive recommendations to drive commercial success.
- Identify and capitalise on new and existing business opportunities to maximise channel potential.
- Standardise markdown and promotional strategies to drive revenue, margin performance, and inventory turnover.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing merchandising team, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.
- Strengthen cross-functional partnerships across SEA to enhance alignment and operational success.
- Champion talent management initiatives to attract, retain, and nurture top merchandising talent.
Key Skills and Competencies
- Strong ability to influence both directly and indirectly across various teams.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office tools.
- Commercially savvy with a strong trading mindset and entrepreneurial approach.
- Fluent in English; additional language skills are advantageous.
- Excellent presentation and communication skills for engaging diverse stakeholders.
- Deep understanding of retail management processes, systems, and analytics.
- Highly analytical, structured, and detail-oriented with a strategic outlook.
- Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with the ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure.
Qualifications and Experience
- A bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, sales, or a related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered.
- At least 8 years of experience in merchandising, with a strong track record in strategic planning and execution.
- Proven leadership experience in managing merchandising teams and driving business performance.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of retail merchandising in Southeast Asia. If you have a passion for driving commercial success and are eager to make an impact within a globally recognised retail powerhouse, we invite you to apply and be part of our journey.