Assistant Merchandiser

At British Heart Foundation (BHF), every purchase our supporters make helps fund lifesaving research and support for people affected by heart and circulatory diseases. We are recruiting two Assistant Merchandisers. We're looking for an analytical and commercially minded Assistant Merchandiser to join our Merchandising team and play a key role in ensuring the right products are in the right place, at the right time, across our retail and online channels.

About the role

As an Assistant Merchandiser, you'll support the Merchandiser in planning, allocating and trading bought-in products across our nationwide retail estate and online channels. Using data and insight, you'll help identify opportunities, minimise risks and support decisions that maximise sales and availability.

You'll be involved in every stage of the product lifecycle, from analysing performance and forecasting demand to managing stock levels and supporting key trading activity such as promotions, markdowns and re-buys.

Key responsibilities include:

• Analysing sales, product and supplier performance data to identify trends and opportunities.
• Supporting range planning and preparing insights for trading and review meetings.
• Managing stock allocation and distribution across stores and online channels.
• Monitoring stock levels, updating forecasts and maintaining open-to-buy plans.
• Supporting promotional activity, markdowns and stock optimisation initiatives.
• Preparing regular trading reports and ensuring actions are followed through.
• Building strong relationships with Buying, Merchandising and wider business teams to drive performance and resolve challenges quickly.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys combining analytical thinking with commercial decision making and wants to develop their merchandising career within a purpose-driven organisation.

About you

You'll bring previous experience from a retail head office environment and have a genuine passion for retail, products and trading. Whether you've worked in merchandising, buying or another product-focused role, you'll be comfortable using data to tell a story and influence decisions.

We're looking for someone who has:

• Experience within a retail head office environment, ideally in merchandising, buying or a product/category role.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills with the ability to draw clear conclusions from data.
• A good understanding of merchandising principles, including range planning, allocation and in-season trading.
• Experience using merchandising and reporting systems to maintain accurate information and generate insights.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders.
• A proactive mindset, curiosity to learn and enthusiasm for embracing new technologies and AI-enabled ways of working.
• Experience in a store or customer-facing retail environment would be advantageous but is not essential.

Working arrangements

This role is a hybrid role, where your work will be split between your home and at least one day per week, on average, in our Northampton office. This may vary from time to time, so you will need to work in a flexible way to unlock your best work for our cause.

Belonging at BHF

By embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment, we strengthen our ability to achieve our mission of saving and improving lives, ensuring our work reflects and serves the needs of every community across the UK.

To hear from our people, check out Belonging at BHF.

Interview process

First stage interviews will consist of a one-way video interview. Second stage will be a panel interview, and they are due to take place in our Northampton office (NN1 2BN) end of October.

How to apply

It's quick and easy to apply for a role at the BHF. Just click on the apply button below. All you'll need is an up-to-date CV and a supporting statement, outlining your interest in the role and how you meet the role's criteria.

Our recruitment processes are fair, accessible, and inclusive. BHF use anonymous CV software as part of the application journey.

We support responsible use of AI to help shape your application. By applying for a role at BHF, you confirm that your application is authentic and reflects your own skills and experience, to ensure everyone is assessed fairly.

Should you need any adjustments to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us.