<div class="box fr-view" id="jobmain"><!-- Introduction --><div><h3>Job Introduction</h3><p style="margin:0px;font-size:inherit;padding:5px 0px;">We are looking for a Senior Merchandise Planning Manager to join the Commercial team at cardfactory to cover maternity leave on a 12 month fixed term basis. &nbsp;In this exciting role, your work will be instrumental in helping to drive business objectives to maximise sales whilst protecting profit across cardfactory’s OMNI channels.</p><p style="margin:0px;font-size:inherit;padding:5px 0px;">Reporting into the Head of Merchandising you will work closely with Buying and Design teams to plan and trade ranges, ensuring in-season activity delivers planned sales, margin and stock targets. You will manage the planning and budgeting process, creating appropriate sale strategy &amp; tactics to suit trading conditions. &nbsp;</p><p style="margin:0px;font-size:inherit;padding:5px 0px;">As a commercial and strategically minded professional you will be able to inspire and motivate the team, enabling them to maximise their potential and achieve success with your coaching and development.</p><p style="margin:0px;font-size:inherit;padding:5px 0px;"><em>We operate smart working principles at cardfactory, combining some days working from our support centre in Wakefield (1-2 a week) with some days working remotely from home.</em></p></div><!-- Responsibilities --><div><h3>Role Responsibility</h3><ul style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-top:0px;"><li style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Managing stock, critical path, deliveries and Mark down plans.</span></li><li style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Managing WSSI and flex to trading patterns to potentialise full price sales and minimise markdown.</span></li><li style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Understand and implement the company strategy, developing departmental strategies with internal teams and peers.</span></li><li style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strong trading mentality with events, trading and promotions to drive sales and deliver against the plan. Lead weekly departmental trade meetings</span></li><li style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Regularly review risks and opportunities to increase sales and profit.</span></li><li style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Build Business Relationships with clear communication and strong collaboration.</span></li><li style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strong collaboration with all functions, especially Retail, Warehouse, Manufacturing, Marketing &amp; Finance to maximise profitability&nbsp;</span></li><li style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Team management and mentoring junior colleagues.</span></li></ul></div><!-- Ideal Candidate --><div><h3>The Ideal Candidate</h3><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;padding:5px 0px;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);">This role will suit a leader with strong stakeholder management skills to manage relationships up to CCO level.</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-top:0px;"><li style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Demonstrate commercial and financial awareness</span></li><li style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Proven track record &amp; recent comparable experience in a merchandising role including multi-channel experience</span></li><li style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Demonstrate the delivery of results as an individual and within a team</span></li><li style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ability to challenge &amp; work under pressure in a fast-moving dynamic retail environment</span></li><li style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Product, Market knowledge &amp; Customer focus</span></li><li style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Robust commercial, analytical, problem solving &amp; presentation skills</span></li><li style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strong communicator &amp; networker with the confidence to influence &amp; engage at all levels</span></li><li style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51);line-height:normal;background:#FFFFFF;"><span style="font-size:14px;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Experience of developing high performing teams and able to lead a team through ambiguity in a constantly changing environment</span></li></ul></div><!-- About the Company --><div><h3>About the Company</h3><p style="margin:0px;font-size:inherit;padding:5px 0px;">Card Factory is the UK’s leading specialist retailer of greeting cards, dressings, and gifts with over one thousand stores across the UK and Ireland.  In 2020 we launched our exciting 5-year business strategy including our vision of becoming a true&nbsp;Omni-channel retailer.  This strategy sees significant investment into our&nbsp;colleagues across the business creating multiple opportunities to join a fast-paced environment and be part of&nbsp;our&nbsp;exciting&nbsp;journey. &nbsp;</p><p style="margin:0px;font-size:inherit;padding:5px 0px;">In return, we offer a wide range of benefits to support your physical, mental, and financial well-being.</p><p style="margin:0px;font-size:inherit;padding:5px 0px;"><strong style="font-weight:700;">Benefits</strong></p><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:10px;"><li style="font-size:inherit;">25% Card Factory colleague discount in-store and online</li><li style="font-size:inherit;">Save As You Earn scheme</li><li style="font-size:inherit;">Financial Wellbeing Support&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"><li style="font-size:inherit;">Financial Education Tools</li><li style="font-size:inherit;">Salary Advance</li></ul></li><li style="font-size:inherit;">Seasonal incentive schemes</li><li style="font-size:inherit;">Opportunity to apply for Retail Apprenticeships</li><li style="font-size:inherit;">Access to blended learning and development content</li><li style="font-size:inherit;">Discounted mobile phone contracts</li><li style="font-size:inherit;">Discounts across 100’s of UK retailers</li><li style="font-size:inherit;">Employee Assistance Programme – access to tools to support mental, physical, and financial wellbeing</li></ul><p style="margin:0px;font-size:inherit;padding:5px 0px;"><iframe height="100%" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kyRjr40aYYE?showinfo=0&amp;controls=0&amp;rel=0" width="100%"></iframe></p><p style="margin:0px;font-size:inherit;padding:5px 0px;">This is an exciting role with genuine prospects for the right candidate. If this role describes you and your career aspirations, click apply now.</p><p style="margin:0px;font-size:inherit;padding:5px 0px;">We reserve the right to close this vacancy once sufficient suitable applications have been received. We advise applying early to avoid disappointment as applications will be reviewed regularly.&nbsp;</p><p style="margin:0px;font-size:inherit;padding:5px 0px;">No agencies, please.</p></div><!-- Hiring Organisation --><div><p>Sportswift Ltd T/A cardfactory</p></div><!-- Apply Button --><a href="https://careers.cfjobs.co.uk/members/?j=27767&amp;lang=en&amp;" class="btn btn-apply applybottom">Apply<i class="fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></div>