We are looking for a Head of Merchandising to join Team OB in our Home & Gift team. As the Head of Merchandising for Home & Gift, you will collaborate with other department heads to contribute to the overall company strategy. You will define and execute a merchandising strategy that enhances our Home & Gift category, ensuring alignment with brand identity, commercial success, and sustainable growth. You will have a deep passion for design-led home and gifting products, pushing boundaries to curate collections that are both innovative and commercially viable. Your role is to maximize sales and profitability, manage stock efficiently, and drive category growth through strategic planning and trend awareness. You will lead and inspire and develop the Home & Gift Merchandising team while being hands-on when necessary to shape the future of the department and continued growth. Our Support Office is based in Tolworth, near Chessington, only a 30-minute journey from London Waterloo. We offer hybrid working with a split of 3 days in the office and 2 days home working per week. A bit about us … At Oliver Bonas (OB), our values of Work Hard, Play Hard & Be Kind are integral to everything we do. Collaboration, imagination, curiosity, and teamwork are key to our success, and everyone has their part to play in making OB a special place to work. Having fun is key, and a playful and positive approach creates an optimistic environment. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we are serious about what we do. Our team knows their stuff. They’re confident and creative and unafraid to challenge convention to find solutions, taking accountability for their actions, but always with kindness and humility. More about the role An OB Head of Merchandising will: • Collaborate with the Head of Home & Gift Buying and Head of Design to develop a product strategy that aligns with business objectives and financial targets. • Provide commercial direction to the Home & Gift Buying & Merchandising teams, identifying risks and opportunities across all channels. • Work closely with Head of Fashion Merchandising to develop and implement cross department strategy to achieve the business objectives and financial targets. • Define and utilize a trading calendar to maximize opportunities for seasonal, occasion-based, and year-round growth. • Conduct regular competitor analysis to assess market trends, pricing strategies, and product innovations. • Identify opportunities to elevate the brand through innovative product assortments, and challenging current layout and grading. • Work with product teams to ensure collections are commercially viable while staying true to OB's design-led ethos. • Encourage fast reactions to trends and trading opportunities, ensuring agility in decision-making. • Manage markdowns and promotions to minimize terminal stock and maximize profitability. • Work cross-functionally to enhance sustainability credentials while maintaining commercial viability. • Investigate digital tools and systems to optimize internal processes and enhance data-driven decision-making. • Lead by example, embodying company values of Work Hard, Play Hard, and Be Kind. • Lead the Branch Merchandising team and support in their management and development. • Inspire, mentor, and develop the Home & Gift Merchandising team, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. • Coach team members through feedback, progress chats, and appraisals, ensuring personal and professional development. • Share all relevant company meeting information including the overall strategy with the team to ensure they understand their own contribution to this. • Work closely with VM and E-commerce teams to optimize in-store and online product presentation. • Partner with Logistics and Warehousing teams to ensure efficient stock flow and mitigate risks. • Collaborate with IT and the Data Team to review current systems and processes to ensure future growth of the business reporting requirements. • Assist the finance team in setting annual budgets and reviewing trade performance. • Collaborate with marketing to align storytelling and promotions with customer lifestyle trends. Bonas Benefits: • Generous employee discount up to 50% off all OB products • Free access to our 24 hour employee assistance programme with Care First – offering financial, emotional and vocational support • Flexible holiday – 33 days (including bank holidays) – increasing to 35 days with length of service • Annual discretionary profit related bonus scheme • Free membership for our Westfield Health Cash Plan or Private Medical • Free access to our onsite gym • Cycle to work scheme • Quarterly free lunch • Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave • Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Voice network and EDI team • Mental Health First Aider support • Education and support throughout Looop eLearning platform What we look for: • Proven experience in merchandising at Manager or Head of Department level, preferably within the Home & Gift sector. • Strong analytical and numerical skills with experience in financial planning and stock management. • Passion for OB’s brand and a keen eye for design-led products. • Excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills. • Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to take calculated risks. • Adaptable, solution-focused, and able to work under pressure. • Deep understanding of the OB customer and their lifestyle needs. • Creative yet commercial eye • Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at OB At Oliver Bonas, our promise is to do our bit to make living a joyful experience and give cause for optimism. This promise is central to our work in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). To bring joy to others, we must first ensure everyone at OB feels valued, included and most importantly, can be themselves at work. It is important to us that our brand reflects wider society and the communities in which we operate. As a result, we welcome all eligible applicants for this role however we are particularly interested in speaking to eligible candidates from the Black, Asian & Mixed Heritage communities. Oliver Bonas is a Disability Confident Committed employer under the Disability Confident employer scheme. To read more about our ED&I commitments, head over to the EDI page on our website: https://www.oliverbonas.com/meet-the-team/diversity