Merchandise Planner
About the job
In this role you will develop an understanding and expertise about your category of products and will be the driver of sales and margin. Taking responsibility for a trading category you plan, control and monitor the purchasing, intake and launch of products and ranges. You will work collaboratively with key stakeholders to resolve all issues efficiently and effectively.
Some of your responsibilities will include:
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As the planning expert, advising other Morrisons colleagues, suppliers and our Hong Kong office of the needs of our customer for your category, the construction of ranges and products attributes.
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Working in collaboration with business colleagues to manage stock, availability, waste/shrink and markdowns for all the products.
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Manage availability of products through appropriate channels such as communication to stores, supply chain, logistics, marketing and any other relevant departments and ensuring you are working in the right way to allow your buying colleague the opportunities to manage the supplier relationships effectively.
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Giving the category team relevant admin, analysis or task support as required.
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Negotiating with suppliers to optimise value (including sales and margin) and operational efficiencies around product sourcing, supply, availability for the appropriate time.
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Delivering sales and cash margin plan. Proactively working with category cell to develop a business plan for the next 12 months. Monitoring and evaluating performance against budget / forecast, including sales volume, value, cash and profits Ensuring that the NAM (Net Achieved Margin) is continuing to improve through controlling markdown and accurate stock allocations
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Exploring opportunities for sales and margin for your category of products, being able to articulate this in a plan with targets, for the next 12 months.
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Being an active member in the category trading cell developing an understanding for buying, quality assurance, supply chain and Hong Kong sourcing specialists.
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Working closely with your supply chain colleague to ensure stock values are maintained, the Open To Buy process is followed and toxic stock is reduced
This role is based at our fantastic head office in Bradford. Boasting an on-site restaurant, coffee shop, convenience and sample store, prayer room, free parking and regular company-wide events and promotions. Ideally, applicants will live within a reasonable distance of our office.
We’ve built an incredibly diverse business, and we’re working hard to make sure we truly represent the communities we serve. One of the best things about working with so many different people is having the opportunity to listen, learn and connect with lots of different views, perspectives and beliefs. For this role, we’re looking for someone who has:
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The ability to seek customer perceptions and motivations to inform and drive improvements, and translate these into sales and margin for Morrison's.
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Ability to interpret the market and make recommendations to maximise sales & margin.
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The ability to influence with effective interpersonal skills, other teams, such as Supply, Technical, Pricing etc, to drive delivery of your annual plan.
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Analytical thinking – manage multiple data sources and make the appropriate decisions for sales, stock, markdown and profit
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Ability to manage OTB Experience
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The ability to use financial analysis and customer data to create and deliver a business plan, which delivers increased brand perception, sales and profit.
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An ability to build relationships with key stakeholders & suppliers.
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A track record of project managing and driving the benefits from an annual plan.
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An ability to trade within the constraints of trading standards and legal compliance. Stockflow and stocks in line with targets
About us
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15% colleague discount in our stores and online, plus 10% for two friends/family members
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Annual bonus scheme
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Generous holiday entitlement
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Company pension contributions
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Private healthcare
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Perks with over 850 retailers
We're Foodmakers and Shopkeepers and together, we make Morrisons. We’re the only UK retailer with our own manufacturing business spread across 18 sites, not to mention nearly 500 stores, we’ve lots of opportunities for you to play your part. So, whether you want to make the freshest food, sell it, or join us in our head office, we’d love to meet you…
Reward & Benefits
We've highlighted below some of our standard Rewards & Benefits that our colleagues receive. Please note, some roles come with additional benefits such as bonus, company car allowance etc. you'll find further details where applicable in our adverts, or you can speak to someone in our resourcing team for more information.
Plan your journey
Head Office, United Kingdom, BD3 7DL
Learning and development is at the heart of our business
As you can imagine, Morrisons is a busy place to be. There’s lots going on - processes, changes, new initiatives, different ways of working. And that’s just on a Monday morning.
It means there’s a lot to learn. But learning isn’t just about understanding what’s involved in day-to-day workloads. It’s also about growing and developing in your career, too. That’s why we’ve made sure that learning and development is at the heart of our business. We’re here to make sure everyone has everything they need to be their best - and to go as far as they want.
Our DE&I workstreams
We're proud to have a diverse group of colleagues working here. We want everyone to feel valued in an environment where we promote respect, where they feel a sense of belonging, and feel celebrated as individuals.
These are the moments that matter to them - and they matter to us, too.
Everyone is welcome to get involved in our Ethnic Diversity, Ability, LGBTQ+, Women, and Family & Carers workstreams, too. They’re designed to help us better reflect our customers, colleagues, and communities so we can become an even more inclusive business.
As a business, we love bringing people together. And we think it’s one of the biggest reasons to be part of our team.
Our Process
We've outlined below what our typical process looks like, this can vary slightly depending upon the role or team you've applied for. Our goal is to provide a positive and accessible experience for all applicants, ensuring everyone has the support they need to showcase their best selves.
Our resourcing team are on hand to help with any questions about your application and you can reach them by e-mailing resourcing@morrisonsplc.co.uk.
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Find an opportunity that's right for you
Once you've found a role that's right for you, you can apply via this site. If it's your first time applying with us then we'll need all your essential information and we might ask you to upload your most recent CV. If you've applied for roles with us before then we should recognise you and you won't need to share these details again, unless something has changed that you need to update us on.
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Online Assessment (Customer Assistant roles)
After your application, we might send you an e-mail and ask you to complete an online assessment. This is typically a situation judgement test where we'll ask you ten questions with mutliple choice answers and takes around 10-15 minutes to complete. The questions will give you a feel for the types of scenarios you might encounter working in our stores - think customer first.
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Let's find out more
For some of our stores and site roles, if you've been successful with your application we might just e-mail and ask you to book a slot for your interview. For other roles our resourcing team will get in touch with you to find out a bit more about you and why you applied. They'll also answer any questions you might have about us and the role. After all, it's a two way process!
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Interview
Our interviews are typically face to face but can sometimes be virtual. Don't worry, we'll advise either way. Your interview can differ depending on the role or team. Part of the interview may include some competency questions against our Ways of Working (listed below).
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Final Stage
With some of our roles there might be a second interveiw. This tends to be for roles in our Head Office and some salaried positions across our stores and sites. As part of this second stage, we might ask you to complete a task, such as a SWOT analysis or something similar, and present it back during the interview. This helps us understand your approach and thinking about the role.
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Decision
Our resourcing team or the store or site you've applied to will be in touch with you as soon as they can to let you know the outcome. If you've been successful we'll share the details of our offer with you and follow up with everything you need on e-mail.
Ways of Working
Our Ways of Working are like a set of values that define our core beliefs, guide decision-making, and shape our culture and how we operate.
Customer First - I care about our customers and do everything I can to meet their needs
Teamwork - I always play my part in the team, and I recognise we go further together
Working Freely in a Framework - I’m trusted to make my own decisions and encouraged to improve things for customers and for us
Care and Respect - We care more and try harder; for each other, for everyone around Morrisons
Listen and Respond - I take the time to talk with and listen to colleagues and customers, and always do the right thing for the them
Grow Sales, Low Cost - I understand my part in the end-to-end process and look for ways to drive improvement
Life at Morrisons offers more than you imagine.
We’re a Yorkshire based food manufacturer and retailer, and our story began with a simple market stall in Bradford all the way back in 1899. Today, we’re still just as committed to delivering on our promise of 'freshness from farm to fork' for every customer. It’s why we’ve grown to become one of the UK’s leading supermarkets. And, with 90,000 colleagues, nearly 500 stores, and 11 million customers every week, there are now more reasons to join us than you can imagine.
Discover Head Office at Morrisons
Our stores aren’t the only place where the magic happens. You’ll find a proper buzz at Head Office in Bradford, too. This is where support for store colleagues begins, from those big board decisions on our business processes, right down to thinking up new ideas to help support our colleagues.
But what we love most about Head Office is that there are more functions than you probably imagine - from trading to marketing, finance to tech, and HR to property. And we all work together to make sure our stores and manufacturing & logistics sites have everything they need to succeed.
Meet the Recruiter
Favourite Morrisons product
The Best Steak & Ale Pie
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