Senior Merchandising Manager

Objectives of this position:

• Manage the overall Merchandising team's day to day operations in line with headquarters strategy and expectations.

• Coach the merchandising team to maximize work efficiency and achieve business targets.

• Excels in negotiation with suppliers and European buyers to achieve department turnover and margin targets.

• Be accountable for business measurability. This includes sales, profitability, Asia market share, delivery performance, quality of the articles and maintaining an efficient supplier pool.

What will you do

• Main contact point for Lidl international buyers and factories.

• Drives the business with your merchandise team and makes sure that the Lidl International interests are implemented.

• Support the business strategies to achieve department turnover and margin.

• Develop a robust supply base by vendor selection, price negotiation and supplier performance measurements to meet the needs of the organization.

• Evaluate the performance of suppliers on a continual basis and take measures to improve performance when necessary.

• Key contact person of strategic partner(s) and develop the relevant categories directly with them.

• Conduct market research with the product development team to develop new business and product categories.

• Support the sample development with the team in line with the department's strategy.

• Build and develop a capable and decisive merchandising team to manage suppliers and drive order allocation within the respective regions.

• Responsibility for price negotiations in two directions - towards our Lidl international buyers and factories of product suppliers.

• Driving the end-to-end operational process and performing critical path management within the merchandising team and through day-to-day liaison with supply chain and supporting departments.

• Liaise with different parties within the supply chain on a day-to-day basis.

• Drive cross divisional projects which brings the company to the next level in terms of business growth and efficiencies.

What will you need

• Degree holder

• Extensive merchandising experience and management experience and proven experience in leading a large team.

• Excellent English language skills.

• Excellent negotiator with a commercial mindset and the ability to understand the bigger picture.

• Works well under pressure, effectively handles conflict, and demonstrates flexibility in work style to accommodate changing priorities and fixed deadlines.

• Technical knowledge in production and capable of solving issues with the supply chain and quality.

• Strong leadership, supervisory and motivation skills.

• Team player with interest to innovate, collaborate and excel in a fast-paced environment.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to cultivate sustainable relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

• Problem solving skills, with the ability to seek advice when required.

• Excellent skill in MS Office/Google Workspace (specifically Excel/Sheets and Power Point/Slides).

• Willing to travel as required.