Merchandise Manager

Birmingham City Football Club is on the rise.

With an incredible history dating back to 1875, Birmingham City Football Club is part of an exciting period of accelerated growth and modernisation and is playing its part in a once-in-a-generation opportunity to support the transformation of England's second city through the Sports Quarter project.

With significant investment across our football, commercial, and community operations, we are rebuilding the Club for long-term success, both on and off the pitch. The journey we're on involves strengthening our structures, elevating our performance environments, growing our teams, and investing heavily in the people, processes, and culture that will define the next chapter of Birmingham City FC.

We are looking for an experienced and commercially driven Merchandise Manager to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the Club's retail merchandise and inventory strategy.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Club during a transformative period of growth, leading inventory planning, product management, and technical partner relationships to support an ambitious retail operation and enhance the supporter experience.

Reporting to the Head of Retail, the Merchandise Manager will lead the Club's merchandise planning and inventory management function, ensuring the right products are available at the right time, across the right channels.

You will take ownership of forecasting, stock optimisation, supplier relationships, and technical partner product management, ensuring commercial opportunities are maximised whilst maintaining operational efficiency and strong inventory control.

Working closely with internal stakeholders and external partners, you will help drive revenue growth, protect margin, and support the continued development of Birmingham City Football Club's retail operation.

Merchandise Planning & Inventory Management

• Lead inventory planning, forecasting, replenishment, and stock management across all retail channels
• Develop demand forecasts and forward ordering strategies that align with commercial objectives and supporter demand
• Manage stock availability and reordering activity to maximise sales opportunities whilst controlling inventory exposure
• Analyse sales trends and product performance to inform purchasing and merchandising decisions

• Manage product ordering and distribution with the Club's technical partners, ensuring delivery schedules, budgets, and critical paths are achieved
• Build strong relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, and licensees to ensure high levels of service and operational performance
• Oversee third-party embellishment processes for playing kit, training wear, and other product categories where required

• Support the Head of Retail with budgeting, financial planning, and forecasting across all product categories
• Identify opportunities to increase revenue, improve stock efficiency, and optimise product performance
• Contribute to the development of wholesale and distribution opportunities, both domestically and internationally

• Work closely with Commercial, Finance, Marketing, Partnerships, Operations, and Retail teams to ensure alignment on business priorities
• Support product launches, seasonal campaigns, and major retail initiatives throughout the football calendar
• Ensure merchandising activity is aligned with wider Club objectives and commercial plans

• Establish and maintain robust stock control, inventory management, and reporting processes
• Ensure consistency of standards and ways of working across all retail touchpoints
• Monitor and improve operational efficiency across purchasing, replenishment, and supply chain activity
• Monitor industry trends, consumer behaviour, and competitor activity to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement
• Utilise data and reporting tools to support informed decision-making and continuous improvement
• Attend relevant industry events, trade shows, and supplier showcases to stay informed on emerging trends and opportunities

We are looking for a commercially minded merchandise professional with a proven track record of managing inventory, forecasting demand, and delivering strong retail performance.

You will be analytical, highly organised, and results-driven, with the ability to balance commercial opportunities with operational control in a fast-paced environment.

• Proven experience in a merchandise management, buying, planning, or product-focused role
• Strong experience managing inventory forecasting, replenishment, and stock optimisation
• Demonstrable experience working with leading sporting brands, technical partners, manufacturers, and suppliers
• Strong understanding of end-to-end supply chain and inventory management processes
• Experience using inventory management systems and reporting tools such as RSS, Medoc, SWAN, Shopify, or equivalent
• Excellent planning,…