Urban Outfitters Senior Assistant Merchandiser, Franchise

Urban Outfitters started out as a single boutique in 1970s Philadelphia with creativity and uniqueness at its core. 50 years on, and over 60 stores across Europe later, we’ve become a destination for emerging design, unexpected styling, One-Of-A-Kind vintage and homeware that makes you want to hit the share button.  

We speak to a social community of over 10 million forward-thinking individuals, bringing together a nostalgia for the past with an enthusiasm to shape the future. The UO community are culturally aware, they shape the music scene, they live a digitally native life and they wear style trends before anyone else. At our core, we empower our customers and staff to express themselves, unapologetically, living life in a way that's truly authentic to them. 

We are always excited to bring new talent into the room, especially if you share our values: 

Progressive — we move with the mood 
Creative — we champion limitless minds 
Inclusive — we open our platforms to all communities 
Responsible — we work to reduce our impact on the environment 
Compassionate — we care for each other beyond the 9 to 5 

Sound like you, why not join us? 

We are looking for a Senior Assistant Merchandiser to join our Franchise team here at UO!

You will support the Franchise Planner and Director in embedding the GCC franchise partner into Core planning and buying
processes, focusing on pre-season buy analysis and how Core process links to partner requirements. This role
provides the analytical and process backbone that sits behind that relationship, keeping Franchise low-touch for Core
teams by using existing tools rather than adding complexity. 

Pre-Season Planning
• Track Core planning deadlines against partner deadlines, ensuring the right information (sales plans, buy plans, dispatch by week) flows at the right time
• Support analysis of depth vs width by store, and how this is reflected in buys and allocations
• Feed into the seasonal Option Framework review process, ensuring IAQ, line life and options align with agreed OTB parameters
• Help track adjustments issued to buy against what is allocated weekly (tiering, IAQs, options, STOPS)
• Monitor plan vs actual and flag risks/opportunities to the Director
• Support sizing analysis post inventory-file cleanse to capture market opportunity in planning and allocation
• Plan seasonal Franchise Store Sales & OTB requirements with the partner, adhering to internal Buying, Planning & Finance deadlines; liaise closely with the partner on opportunities, risks, expected stock turn/cover, phasing & ASP
• Plan forward season Franchise Division & Class Sales & OTB mixes, ensuring close alignment with Core business whilst considering market trading differences; issue Buy Adjustments to Core teams in line with internal deadlines
• Manage and review the Franchise planning calendar, ensuring the Franchise team and partner adhere to relevant planning deadlines
• Input into seasonal Lessons learnt and Strategy conversations with Franchise planner – also feeding back big deals to core teams.

In-Season Trading Support
• Support the Branch Merchandising Planner on inventory management, protecting flow of newness and bestsellers
• Help introduce and maintain planning tools such as WSSI and option planning
• Support sign-off process for markdown and promotional proposals; monitor Franchise FP/MD mix and influence partner MD strategy to align closely with Core business
• Provide Core insight into class mix, growth/decline distortions, and how these feed the B&P process
• Support monitoring of seasonality parameters, including aging as a key attribute
• Support partner Recode sign-off process, ensuring partner is aligned with Core business whilst reacting to market exceptions

Process & Projects
• Help align the partner with Core ways of working, and feed back how partner pre-season planning could inform changes to Core process

• Assist with the review of the Local Buys process, including reviewing critical path, collating and sharing selected Core buy information where relevant, and managing the sign-off process
• Support the Director on scoping ad hoc projects

Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Work closely with the Branch Merchandising Planner on trading viewpoint and stock package alignment
• Work with Buying, Logistics and Finance to resolve supply chain, allocation and margin issues
• Lead the quarterly Sales & Dispatch Review meeting with Azadea, inputting into and actioning any agreed amends to sales & OTB

• Proven experience in planning or merchandising within fashion retail; wholesale/franchise experience
preferred
• Strong Excel skills (WSSI, OTB modelling); exposure to MicroStrategy or similar BI tools an advantage
• Confident numerical and analytical skills, with sound commercial judgement
• Clear communicator, comfortable presenting analysis to senior stakeholders
• Highly organised, deadline-driven, and comfortable working across time zones

#UrbanEU #LI-ER1

• Work-life balance:

-Flexible start and finish times

-Bring your dog to work

• Wellbeing:

-Employees Assistance program to support with mental, physical and financial health

-Fully equipped free gym and on-site wellness room in Brick Lane and 50% discount of external gym memberships

-Private Medical Insurance

• Employee Discount:

-Up to 40% off at all URBN Brands

• Community:

-One paid day to either volunteer or fundraise for a charity of your choice

• Travel:

 -Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan

• Continued Development:

-We offer structured support within the business alongside continued learning and development

URBN is an Equal Opportunities Employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We provide equal employment opportunities regardless of age, sexual orientation, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, marital status, religion, race, or disability. We base all our employment decisions on merit, job requirements and business needs.