About this role
THE ROLE & THE TEAM
This is an exciting opportunity for a team player with an entrepreneurial and analytical mindset to take on a major role in the transformation of the Merchandising Team at Lounge by Zalando. As a Senior Commercial Manager - Designer, your primary role is to define the category strategy tied to our overall customer and growth objectives, develop the supporting commercial KPI plan, and partner with stakeholders across the organisation to execute upon this strategy. In this role, you will use your sharp analytics skills, stakeholder management expertise, and proactive problem-solving capabilities to deliver an assortment that customers love and that meets our financial objectives. Additionally, you will take on exciting projects that improve our processes and team culture.
Find out more about our business categories: https://jobs.zalando.com/en/what-we-do#job-categories
INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN
If you think you have what it takes, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single requirement. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles!
At Zalando, our vision is to be the leading pan-European ecosystem for fashion and lifestyle e-commerce – one that thrives on diversity and is truly inclusive by design. We believe that diverse teams fuel innovation and creativity, and we actively seek out talent from all backgrounds.
We actively seek to reduce bias in our hiring and employment processes, focusing on your qualifications, skills, and contributions. To support this, we kindly ask that you refrain from including personal details such as your photo, age, or marital status in your CV, ensuring a fair and equitable evaluation based solely on your abilities and potential.
We are committed to providing an exceptional and accessible candidate experience for everyone. If you require any accommodations to support you throughout the hiring process, please let us know – we are here to assist you.
Discover more about our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace: https://jobs.zalando.com/en/our-culture/diversity-and-inclusion
WHAT WE’D LOVE YOU TO DO (AND LOVE DOING)
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Drive strategy & performance: Serve as the strategic expert for the Designer category, building assortment plans and aligning stakeholders to deliver customer-centric and profitable growth.
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Cross-functional alignment: Collaborate seamlessly with Retail, Marketing, Pricing, Buying, Operations, and Tech teams to execute category goals.
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Commercial planning & forecasting: Lead the seasonal planning cycle to establish financial KPI targets, continuously monitoring performance and adjusting OTB forecasts to optimize inventory.
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Offprice inventory management: Formulate action plans to secure high-demand stock or viable alternatives across varied inventory pools.
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Process innovation: Lead initiatives that enhance decision-making and efficiency by leveraging modern technology and tools.
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Foster collaboration: Build a supportive, positive environment across core teams while driving continuous improvement and positive change.
WE’D LOVE TO MEET YOU IF
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Background: You hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business or a related field, with a recommendation of 5+ years of Merchandising or Planning experience, ideally within eCommerce.
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Commercial & analytical capability: You excel in quantitative analysis, translating complex data into clear insights without losing sight of the broader business strategy.
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Adaptability & ownership: You are a proactive self-starter who thrives in fast-paced environments, managing ambiguity with strong personal accountability.
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Problem-solving mindset: You actively challenge the status quo to build innovative solutions for complex commercial challenges.
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Technical expertise: You possess advanced proficiency in Excel, Google Suite, and planning software to streamline workflows.
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Team collaboration: You enjoy supporting colleagues, communicating complex topics simply, and driving team success.
OUR OFFER
Zalando provides a range of benefits, here’s an overview of what you can expect. Ask your Talent Acquisition Partner to learn more about what we offer.
- 27 days of holiday a year to start for full-time employees (+1 day for every calendar year up to 30 days)
- 2 paid volunteering days a year
- Work from abroad for up to 30 working days a year
- Employee shares programme
- 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Lounge by Zalando, discounts from external partners
- Relocation assistance available (subject to prior agreement)
- Family services, including counselling and support
- Health and wellbeing options (including Wellhub, formerly Gympass)
- Mental health support and coaching available
- Drive your development through our training platform and biannual peer-to-peer review
In some cases we also work with a selection of headhunters and agencies to fill specific roles. Please note that neither Zalando nor our recruiting partners will ask for any kind of payment to apply for a job or attend an interview.
If you have any questions about our recruitment process, please take a look at our FAQ page.
About Zalando
Founded in Berlin in 2008, Zalando is the leading European technology platform for fashion and lifestyle. Connecting 62 million active customers with more than 7,000 brands across 29 markets, our operations are built on a unique AI-powered data and infrastructure platform. For our customers, our multi-app approach - comprising Zalando, ABOUT YOU, and Lounge by Zalando - delivers an inspiring, highly personalized shopping experience, serving different customers with different needs. For our partners, we are building the operating system for e-commerce. Through ZEOS, Tradebyte, and SCAYLE, we open our logistics, software, and service capabilities to brands and retailers, enabling them to seamlessly scale their businesses across borders.
Learn more about our culture