Buying and Merchandising Manager

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Job Title: Buying and Merchandising Manager

Job Grade: RL3 (Lead)

Reports to: Retail Director

Location: Vantage London, Hybrid
Department: Commercial

Sub-department: Retail

Salary: £50,000

The Club

Brentford FC is a bit different from other Premier League football clubs. We put our fans first, we are a true community club and while we are financially sustainable, we are not afraid to take calculated risks. We take huge pride in our environment and culture within the Club which focuses on development, inclusion and not being afraid to think differently.

Being progressive, humble and respectful while sticking together as one team across the Club guides how we work and the decisions we make each day.

We also firmly believe that a diverse workforce is a better workforce which will help us develop ideas, solve problems and ultimately grow Brentford FC.

We play in a new stadium, 15 minutes from Heathrow in vibrant west London.

We will never forget where we have come from, but we are excited about the future that lies ahead.

Job Overview

Maximize commercial revenue and gross profit through a data-driven product strategy; sourcing fan-centric ranges while rigorously managing sell-through.

Key Responsibilities

• Utilize sales, product and operational data build high-margin collections.

• Rigorously manage inventory lifecycle to optimize stock turnover.

• Design a balanced product matrix building trend-based assortments.

• Manage annual buying budget effectively.

• Deliver an immediate exit and markdown plan to sell through legacy inventory.

• Set retail prices and target intake margins to hit global Gross Profit goals.

Knowledge

• Proven track record of negotiating cost prices, payment terms, and minimum order quantities.

• Experienced in a fast-paced retail environment, with at least 2 years owning a significant buying budget.

• Experience managing WSSI reporting.

Specialist Skills

• Understand and be able to execute effectively full product lifecycle, successfully taking products from conception to delivery.

• Optimise Brentford’s supply chain by phasing deliveries, aligning product intake dynamically with peak demand periods to maintain efficient stock levels.

People Skills

• Collaborative approach to work with a continuous improvement mind-set.

• Ability to manage own time effectively.

• Work alongside, and understand the objectives of, the Retail Operations team to build effective in-store plans.

External Impact

• Able to work collaboratively across departments to achieve business and departmental objectives.

• Manage Brentford’s product suppliers maintaining the positive reputation the club has within our network.

• Work closely with the club’s Technical Apparel and formalwear partners.

Decision Making

• Full ownership of stock allocation strategies, including determining when and how to move inventory between distribution channels.

• Accountability for the commercial timing, depth, and structural mechanics of all promotional markdowns.

• Autonomously manage uncommitted buying budget based on live data managing the clubs cash flow effectively.

Innovation

• Drive the evolution of the department’s commercial toolkits.

• Identify and onboard responsive short, mid and long term suppliers and partners.

• Collaborate with marketing and creative teams to pilot modern, high-frequency capsule drops that break away from traditional seasonal delivery constraints and capitalize on cultural trends.

General Club Accountabilities

• To comply with all Club policies, including health and safety, data regulations and other legal, ethical and social requirements

• To build and maintain good working relationships while maintaining a professional image

• To keep confidential any information gained regarding the Club and its personnel

• To always maintain a flexible approach to work

Inclusion Statement

Brentford FC is proud to be an organisation that values equity, diversity and inclusion. We strive to create a culture that celebrates difference and ensures fairness, safety, representation, and belonging.

We recognise that some groups remain underrepresented in our workforce and are actively working to change this. As part of that commitment, we strongly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds — particularly those from ethnically diverse communities, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and disabled people.

We’re committed to a fair and inclusive recruitment process, with all decisions made based on merit and suitability — regardless of background or protected characteristic. Should you be selected for interview, we welcome the opportunity to discuss any specific arrangements, accommodations or reasonable adjustments you may require to be made.

Safeguarding Statement

Brentford FC is fully committed to promoting equality, and to safeguarding the welfare of all children and adults at risk. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and is a core part of the Club’s culture. All staff and volunteers share a collective duty to create and maintain a safe and supportive environment, both on and off the field.

To ensure this, all staff are required to complete regular safeguarding training appropriate to their role. This training supports a proactive and informed approach to safeguarding practice.

The successful candidate will be expected to understand, adhere to, and actively uphold all relevant safeguarding policies and procedures. This includes recognising signs of abuse or harm, responding appropriately, and reporting any concerns in a timely manner to the Club’s Safeguarding Team.

Brentford FC operates safer recruitment practices. We remind individuals that it is a criminal offence for a person barred from engaging in regulated activity to apply for a role that involves such activity.

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