Head of Merchandising - SEA & Australia

Key Responsibilities:

Merchandising

• Define and execute regional merchandising strategies aligned with business objectives and global brand direction.
• Lead seasonal buying activities and establish category-level investment strategies to maximize sales, margin, and inventory productivity.
• Develop regional assortment plans based on market needs, customer insights, sales trends, and competitive landscape.
• Provide strategic recommendations on assortment opportunities, regional requirements, and business performance.
• Drive commercial decisions throughout the season to optimize business opportunities and mitigate risks.
• Monitor key business indicators including sales, sell-through, average selling price, stock cover, markdown rates, and inventory turnover.

Inventory Management & Supply Optimization

• Ensure optimal stock allocation and replenishment strategies.
• Develop proactive strategies to manage slow-moving inventory.
• Oversee stock transfers, replenishment priorities, and allocation decisions to maximize productivity and customer experience.
• Lead markdown and promotional recommendations while protecting brand equity and profitability.
• Partner with other teams to optimize stock flow, inventory investments, and product availability.

Market Analysis & Consumer Insights

• Analyze consumer buying behavior, market trends, and competitive activities to identify growth opportunities.
• Provide actionable insights and recommendations to improve assortment productivity and customer engagement.
• Monitor market performance and evolving luxury retail trends to influence future merchandising strategies.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop the Merchandising team
• Provide guidance and support to ensure consistent merchandising excellence across markets.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with other departments to ensure alignment on business objectives.
• Work with Retail & VM to support product launches, commercial initiatives, and storytelling strategies.
• Collaborate with CRM teams to leverage customer insights and improve merchandising decisions.

Retail Excellence & Product Training

• Lead communications on seasonal product strategies, assortment priorities, and commercial objectives.
• Support retail teams through regular store visits to gather market feedback and identify opportunities.
• Ensure store teams have strong product knowledge and commercial understanding to maximize conversion and client experience.
• Oversee development of merchandising tools, product guides, and seasonal training materials.

Key Attributes

• Strong commercial and strategic mindset.
• Excellent analytical and financial acumen.
• Deep understanding of luxury retail and fashion industry dynamics.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree or above.
• Minimum 6 years of merchandising and buying experience, preferably within luxury retail or premium fashion.
• Strong understanding of luxury customer behavior and regional market dynamics.