Senior Merchandiser; Maternity Cover

Does working for a Brand like ours excite you? Ifso, becoming part of the Saltrock familyandbeing based in North Devoncould be part of your next adventure!

For over 30 years, Saltrock; a British, coastal,lifestyle brand, has had holiday, family, spirt and fun at its heart. Ourinspiration flows from land and sea, waves and coastline. Designed in the South West since 1988 we have grown into a loved Devon brand known for its iconicprint designs.

We are looking for a Senior Merchandiser to come aboard on a Maternity Cover contract starting in April for a minimum of 12 months.

The role ofthe Senior Merchandiser is to support the Head of Merchandising in driving the overall merchandising strategy, maximising sales, margin, and cash through effective planning, trading, and stock management. The Senior Merchandiser willlead a team and ensure ranges are delivered with the right product, in theright place, at the right time, in the right quantity, and at the right priceacross all channels.

The role playsa key part in shaping commercial decisions, minimising markdown risk, and delivering company KPIs while working closely with Product, Buying, and the widerbusiness teams.

• Analysehistorical performance and customer behaviour to inform future product andcategory strategy in collaboration with the Product and Buying teams.
• Build andmanage robust seasonal plans aligned to range, category, and segmentstrategies across all channels.
• Leadstock and intake planning, setting optimum stock targets while consideringlead times, buffer stock, and channel requirements.
• Develop and manage pricing strategies in partnership with Product to achievemargin and profit targets.
• Own and contribute to WSSI planning alongside the Head of Merchandising, ensuring alignment to KPI budgets.
• Present clear, commercially focused insights and recommendations at sign-off,trade, and senior leadership meetings.
• Monitorcompetitor activity and market trends, challenging and influencing future product and trading strategies.

• Ownweekly and period trading reviews, ensuring accurate forecasting of sales,stock, and intake.
• Reconcileand validate the weekly management pack, ensuring data integrity and clearcommercial insight.
• Maximiseperformance during peak trading periods (e.g. Summer, Christmas, Sale),building plans to drive sales and mitigate risk.
• Managepromotional and markdown strategies to optimise sell-through, minimiseobsolete stock, and protect margin.
• Ensureorders are placed in line with forecasts, trading performance, and ordering cycles.

• Maintainexpert-level knowledge of all merchandising systems, including WSSI tools.
• Ensure effective use of allocation and sales reactive systems to maximisefull-price sell-through and availability.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, processes, and ways of working, drivingefficiency and best practice.
• Conductdetailed data integrity and stock checks to support accurate reporting and planning.

• Lead,coach, and develop the merchandising team, ensuring high performance andclear accountability.
• Supporttraining and progression of team members, building future merchandisingcapability.
• Foster strong cross-functional relationships across Product, Operations, Finance,and Digital teams.
• Take ownership of personal development and demonstrate leadership behavioursaligned with company values.

• Strongadvanced Excel and analytical skills
• Highlynumerate with strong commercial acumen
• Proven experience in a Head Office merchandising environment
• Sound understanding of critical path, product lifecycle, and stock management
• Confident communicator with strong presentation skills
• Experience managing and developing a team
• Abilityto prioritise and manage a heavy workload in a fast-paced environment
• Proactive,self-motivated, and solutions-focused
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills
• Flexible,confident, and enthusiastic approach
• Experience working in a multi-channel retail environment (store and eCommerce)
• Knowledge of Futura, Qlik View, or similar merchandising and BI systems