Summary
GMG is hiring a Senior Merchandiser for its Sports division in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The role leads merchandise planning and trading, manages assortment and inventory performance, and coordinates with Buying, Planning, Supply Chain, and Store Operations. Candidates should have six years of merchandising experience, including experience in sports retail and inventory management, and a bachelor's degree in Business or a related field. SAP and advanced Excel proficiency are preferred.
The posting
As published on gmg.com. Pulled from the employer's site and shown as they wrote it.
Role Summary
The Senior Merchandiser plays a key role in executing and optimizing the merchandising strategy for the Sports division, taking ownership of complex product assortments, stock productivity, and category performance. The role combines commercial planning, data-driven trading, and inventory management to ensure the right products, quantities, and sizes are in the right locations to drive sales, margin, and sell-through. Working cross-functionally with Category Management, Buying, Planning, Allocation, Supply Chain, and Store Operations, the Senior Merchandiser acts as a subject-matter expert and coach for junior merchandising staff.
Role Responsibilities
Translate category strategy and financial targets into seasonal merchandise plans, including range architecture, option counts, depth, and investment by channel, country, and store cluster
Build pre-season assortment frameworks (good/better/best, price ladders, category mix) and provide Buying with clear quantitative and qualitative briefs
Lead post-season and mid-season reviews, identifying lessons learned and embedding them into future plans (assortment, sizing, grading, launch phasing)
Own merchandise KPIs at category and cluster level (sales, margin, sell-through, WOS, stock turn, markdowns), tracking performance against plan and proposing corrective actions
Work with Planning and the Category Manager on open-to-buy (OTB) usage, intake phasing, and stock exit strategies to protect both top line and profitability
Define inventory targets and guardrails for Merchandisers and Allocators (e.g., min/max levels, WOS bands, priority doors) and monitor adherence
Lead weekly and monthly trading meetings for assigned categories, consolidating inputs from Merchandising, Allocation, and Stores into clear actions (rebuys, cancellations, rephasing, promotions, transfers)
Use advanced analysis (rate-of-sale, cohort performance, store clusters, size curves) to recommend targeted actions rather than blanket decisions
Propose commercial actions such as markdown strategies, promo mechanics focus, and product re-positioning to unlock demand or clear non-performing stock
Act as the senior point of contact for Merchandisers and Allocators on category priorities, parameters, and ways of working
Provide direction on which products, stores, and channels to prioritize, ensuring execution by Merchandisers and Allocators is aligned with category strategy
Partner with the Category Manager, Buying, Supply Chain, and Store Operations to drive end-to-end alignment from pre-buy through to exit
Develop and maintain robust reporting packs for category performance, synthesizing data from SAP, Excel, and BI tools into concise insights and scenarios for leadership
Identify structural issues (e.g., grading, size curves, minimum order quantities) and work with the Category Manager and Planning to implement medium- to long-term fixes
Champion process and system improvements within merchandising, standardizing best practice across Merchandisers and Allocators
Technical / Functional Competencies
Strong analytical skills, leveraging advanced tools to monitor inventory levels, sales performance, and market trends
Understanding of customer behavior and purchasing patterns to guide data-driven product selection and promotional strategies
Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple product categories, tasks, and deadlines effectively
Strong communication abilities, ensuring clear and efficient collaboration with cross-functional internal teams and external partners, including suppliers
Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP preferred) and advanced Excel for reporting and analysis
Sound decision-making abilities to respond to changing market demands and operational challenges
Consistently upholds GMG's merchandising standards and contributes to the team's overall efficiency and success
Experience / Qualification
Bachelor's degree in Business; a degree in Retail Management is preferred
Postgraduate qualification is advantageous
6 years of experience in merchandising roles
Experience in the sports retail industry
Experience in inventory management
Certifications (advantageous): Certified Retail Merchandiser, Advanced Excel Certificate, SAP ERP Certification, Data Analysis Certificate, Project Management Certificate