Assistant Merchandiser - Fashion Retail

Assistant Merchandiser - Fashion Retail Job Snapshot

Role: Assistant Merchandiser - Fashion Retail
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Retail
Function: Merchandise Planning and Buying
Experience: Minimum 3 years
Job Type: Full-time

Position Overview Assistant Merchandiser - Fashion Retail in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a Retail hiring opportunity with Al-Futtaim for a UAE National professional supporting the Marks and Spencer merchandising operation. The role combines merchandise allocation, demand planning, catalogue buying, stock optimization, trading analysis, digital range building, and store communication to improve product availability, sell-through, customer choice, and commercially informed buying decisions.

Job Details Country: United Arab Emirates
City: Dubai
Industry: Retail
Function: Merchandise Planning and Buying
Salary: Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer.
Gender: Any
Candidate Nationality: Emirati
Job Type: Full-time

Role Context The Assistant Merchandiser supports the Senior Merchandiser and Merchandiser by converting sales, stock, customer, and market data into practical allocation and buying decisions. The position helps ensure the right merchandise reaches the right stores in appropriate quantities and size ratios while supporting seasonal range development and digital product availability. A significant part of the role involves using merchandising technology and analytical tools to improve decision-making. From Invent Analytics AI Allocation and demand planning solutions to Digital Range Building, Excel, and potentially SAP, the Assistant Merchandiser helps create a more data-driven merchandise lifecycle across physical stores and online channels.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage BTF settings and ratio balancing accurately to support effective merchandise allocation across the store network.
• Guide allocators on merchandising processes, systems, stock management practices, and allocation requirements.
• Support the implementation and operational use of the Invent Analytics AI Allocation solution.
• Analyze store-level requirements and regional demand patterns to determine appropriate stock and size availability.
• Maintain regular contact with stores to identify stock gaps, local demand variations, and product availability issues.
• Improve sell-through and merchandise availability by refining allocation decisions using trading and inventory data.
• Produce accurate merchandising reports and maintain consistent reporting standards for business stakeholders.
• Review weekly trading results and identify actions based on sales trends, promotions, stock positions, and customer demand.
• Highlight best-selling and underperforming merchandise and investigate the commercial factors influencing performance.
• Analyze customer purchasing behavior and product preferences to support merchandising and range decisions.
• Maintain clean and reliable merchandising data for accurate reporting and planning.
• Complete seasonal sales analysis and use historical performance to recommend future buying quantities and range adjustments.
• Combine quantitative analysis with market and customer observations to support commercially sound buying recommendations.
• Assist the Senior Merchandiser and Merchandiser throughout the catalogue buying cycle.
• Maintain the Core Buying sheet and support implementation of the Demand Planning solution.
• Enter buying quantities accurately into IBT and Digital Range Building systems.
• Prepare planograms through Digital Range Building to support effective product and range presentation.
• Compare proposed buys against previous-year performance, approved buying budgets, promotional calendars, and current trading expectations.
• Generate IBO ranges and contribute merchandising insight to business unit range and trading strategy.
• Remain informed about fashion trends, competitor activity, customer preferences, and relevant developments within the market.
• Act as an initial point of contact for stores when stock availability or merchandise-related issues arise.
• Support weekly trade communications by providing concise and commercially relevant information to stores and internal stakeholders.
• Contribute to retail conference planning and merchandising-related presentations when required.
• Support digital transformation initiatives that connect merchandise planning across stores and online channels.
• Maintain clear communication with the Principal and other business stakeholders regarding merchandise requirements and performance.
• Review online product information and descriptions to ensure customers receive accurate, useful, and commercially relevant content.
• Support team development through coaching, knowledge sharing, SMART objectives, and effective performance discussions.
• Work with leadership and HRBP processes to strengthen capability development and succession planning within the team.

Ideal Profile

Candidates should hold a degree in Business Management or a related discipline and have at least 3 years of experience in fashion buying and merchandising at Assistant Merchandiser or Allocator level. Practical experience within a retail buying environment is essential. Exposure to MENA or European markets and familiarity with UK or European fashion brands would provide a strong advantage, particularly when interpreting seasonal ranges, customer preferences, and regional merchandise requirements. The role requires advanced numerical and analytical capability, meticulous attention to detail, and confidence interpreting sales, inventory allocation, and customer data. Candidates should be comfortable managing complex merchandise information and converting analysis into clear commercial actions. Strong Excel capability is essential, together with proficiency in key Microsoft applications. Experience with SAP, merchandise planning platforms, AI-supported allocation tools, demand planning systems, or digital range-building solutions is beneficial. This opportunity is specifically designated for Emiratization and therefore requires UAE National candidates.

Skills Set

• Fashion merchandising
• Merchandise allocation
• Merchandise planning
• Fashion buying
• Catalogue buying
• Demand planning
• Inventory optimization
• Stock allocation
• Size ratio management
• Sell-through analysis
• Weekly trade analysis
• Seasonal sales analysis
• Best and worst seller analysis
• Customer buying behavior analysis
• Range planning
• Core buying management
• Buying budget analysis
• Promotional calendar planning
• Planogram preparation
• Digital Range Building
• Invent Analytics
• AI Allocation
• IBT
• IBO range management
• Advanced Microsoft Excel
• SAP
• Retail reporting
• Product data management
• Omnichannel merchandising
• Store stock management

Why Join Us

Fashion Retail merchandising is increasingly driven by sophisticated allocation technology, demand forecasting, customer analytics, and integrated store and digital inventory planning. This position offers direct experience with those capabilities while supporting the Marks and Spencer business within Al-Futtaim. For a UAE National building a long-term merchandising career in Dubai, the role provides exposure to an established international retail brand, regional buying practices, AI-supported allocation, digital transformation, commercial analysis, and cross-functional retail operations. The breadth of responsibility creates a strong foundation for progression into merchandising, buying, merchandise planning, or broader retail commercial leadership.

About the Company

Al-Futtaim is a diversified regional group headquartered in Dubai with businesses spanning automotive, financial services, real estate, retail, and health. Its Retail operations represent internationally recognized brands including Marks and Spencer, providing customers across the region with established fashion, food, home, and lifestyle propositions.

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