Merchandising Manager

We're looking for a Merchandising Manager to join our Store Innovation and Format team here at Co-op. As a Merchandising Manager you'll own, define, and develop our approach to micro-space optimisation aligned to our range and merchandising strategy. We'll look to you to run a team of up to twelve Micro Space Planners that will build and maintain planograms, whilst always considering agreed objectives and guardrails. You'll be responsible for making sure our overall proposition is merchandised in the right place at the right time for our multi-channel customers, members, and colleagues.

What you'll do

• Develop our merchandising principles and guardrails and drive the change needed to embed these into ways of working processes and decision-making across our partner business areas


• Look to continuously improve how we use our micro-space and merchandising capability to meet our business and customer needs, making sure it's fit for the future


• Lead, coach and develop a large team of Micro Space Planners responsible for the maintenance of all multi-channel planograms


• Work cross-functionally and communicate across the business to make sure the team are aligned and can deliver successfully and in the most effective way


• Make sure planograms are continually maintained accurately, on time and to agreed quality and outcomes


• Working together with business leaders to set up the right conditions to enable the team to meet all merchandising principles and guardrails whilst delivering against range review and promotional objectives


• Collaborate within the team to improve outcomes and colleague experiences


• Support and input into projects, tests, and trials that require a different approach to merchandising to support our changing business strategy and objectives
  
  Experience in motivating and leading a successful team whilst prioritising the delivery of business needs and objectives


• A clear focus on future planning, to help influence the right decision making today


• The ability to champion change whilst building strong relationships internally and externally to create a rounded view and understanding of different priorities and perspectives


• Excellent influencing, communication, and presentation skills with the ability to question and challenge where necessary


• Category management and store merchandising experience with an understanding of inventory and range review processes
  
  At Co-op, we're proud to do things a different way. As one of the world's largest co-operatives, owned by millions of members, community is at the heart of what we do. Since our Co-op was founded in 1844, we've had a clear social purpose, and everything we do as a business helps to build a fairer world for our members, customers, colleagues, and communities.


Building a diverse environment

We're actively building diverse teams and we welcome applications from everyone. If you have a disability, we can make reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process according to your needs. We're also part of the Disability Confident scheme, meaning we'll always offer an interview to disabled candidates who apply through the scheme if they meet the minimum criteria for a job.

We'll ask whether you'd like to be considered under the Disability Confident scheme when you apply.

If we invite you to take part in the recruitment process for any of our jobs, we'll ask you if you need any reasonable adjustments to enable you to participate.

If you have the skills that we need, we can offer you a competitive salary and great benefits package which includes 30% off Co-op branded products in our food stores (as well as other discounts on Co-op products and services).

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)


• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays


• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions


• Private healthcare for you


• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)


• Coaching and training to support your career development


• Wagestream app - giving you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn