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About the Role

Joining the Brands Team at Next during this period of growth is an incredible opportunity to make a significant impact at the UK's leading fashion platform! As an Assistant Trading Manager, you'll play a vital role in fostering relationships with external brands across Womenwear, Menswear and Kidswear, including River Island, Monsoon, AllSaints, Hush and Mint Velvet. You will be the face of our business to our partners, someone who can navigate the entire commercial lifecycle, from weekly trade performance to long-term seasonal strategy. Ensure our brands thrive on our platform, stock stays fluid, and every season outperforms the last.

Responsibilities

Build influential working relationships with brands, ensuring new partners are seamlessly onboarded and fully aligned with operational processes.
Take accountability for KPIs across assigned commission brands.
Partner with the Trading Manager and Commercial Product Manager to support the negotiation of mutually beneficial commercial terms.
Provide strategic phasing advice and sales projections for the season along with "Good/Better/Best" quantity guidelines, optimum option width and phasing advice to maximise full-price sell-through and minimise terminal stock.
Lead weekly reviews of commission trade, proactively identify risks to targets and pinpoint sudden growth opportunities.
Manage the Seasonal Review process, presenting performance summaries and outlining future guidelines.
Identify distinct product-level opportunities by leveraging market research, competitor shopping, and internal data.
Translate top-line insights into actionable guidance for partner brands, influencing their future range builds to ensure alignment with customer needs.
Ensure all sales, profit, intake, markdown, and RTB figures are realistic, achievable, and strategically aligned with the wider business to maintain forecast integrity.
Take full ownership of the RTB and markdown processes, ensuring rule sets are accurate and timelines are strictly met.
Ensure commission brands maintain the correct level of intake relative to sales generated/forecast.
Guarantee all LABEL+ volumes provided to logistics are accurate to facilitate efficient vehicle planning.

Requirements

Great Communication Skills: Prepare clear and engaging presentations for internal meetings and brand partner discussions.
Tailor communication style to your audience, ensuring information is conveyed effectively.
Actively listen to feedback and respond thoughtfully to questions or concerns.
Solid Technical Merchandising Skills: Utilise technical expertise to analyse data and forecast sales.
Ensure accuracy in merchandise systems and contract negotiations to support successful trading relationships.
Stay updated on industry best practices and trends to enhance merchandising capabilities.
Energetic, Enthusiastic, and Self-Confident: Approach your role with energy and enthusiasm, inspiring others with passion and positivity.
Demonstrate confidence in abilities and decisions, especially when presenting information or leading discussions.
Open-Mindedness to New Ways of Working: Embrace innovation and creativity, actively seeking new ideas and solutions to challenges.
Be receptive to feedback and different perspectives, recognizing that diverse viewpoints can lead to better outcomes.
Encourage a culture of continuous improvement and experimentation within your team.
Enjoyment of the Product and Trend Side of the Role: Immerse yourself in the world of product and trends, staying informed about the latest developments and innovations.
Use passion for product and trends to drive creative merchandising strategies and inspire your team.
Actively seek opportunities to collaborate with brand partners to bring innovative products to market.
Candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship for this role will be required to meet the Home Office sponsorship requirements.

Skills

Communication Skills
Technical Merchandising Skills
Data Analysis
Sales Forecasting
Merchandise Systems
Contract Negotiation
Strategic Planning
Financial Forecasting
Stock Management
Relationship Building

Location

Onsite

Work Type

Full-time

Experience Level

Assistant

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays
Profit-related bonus - based on company performance
Private health insurance- surgery choices
Sharesave scheme - make savings from your net pay to buy NEXT shares at a discount
Pension - fixed contribution rates from both an employer and employee perspective, with the option to make additional voluntary contributions (AVCs)
25% staff discount on most NEXT products, plus discount on other products
Wagestream - helping you make the most out of your money
Salary finance - offers access to affordable loans repaid through salary, simple savings and free financial education
Life assurance
Direct to work - NEXT orders delivered free to the office for collection
VIP sale - early access to the NEXT sale
Access to NEXT staff shops
Octopus energy - like cycle-to-work, but for electric vehicles
Free parking (excluding London locations)
Travel2NEXT - bus services dependent on location
On site dining facilities (excluding London locations)
National and local discounts on goods and services - this includes things like discounted cinema tickets
Wellhub - includes access to discounted gym membership
Simply health - a healthcare subscription service
Aviva Digicare Workplace+ healthcare service - 7 Free services including Digital GP appointments and an annual health check
Onsite GP - Leicester Head Office
Onsite Physio - Leicester Head Office
A range of dedicated 3rd party wellbeing partners
Free eye testing - voucher to use at specific locations

About the Company

NEXT is a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 44,000 people across the Next group.
The UK's 2nd largest fashion retailer and the market leader for Kidswear.
Operates over 450 stores, plus Next Online, with the ability to buy online from over 80 countries worldwide.
A Google-powered workspace, utilizing Google Workspace suite (Docs, Drive, and Meet).

Equal Opportunity

We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary.
Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email headoffice_careers@next.co.uk (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line), or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.