Assistant Merchandise Manager

Overview

Hermès is a family-owned French luxury house renowned for artisanal craftsmanship, exceptional materials and a curated approach to product creation and retail. Operating globally through regional subsidiaries such as Hermès Australia Pty Ltd, the brand combines creative autonomy with a long-standing heritage of savoir-faire and selective international expansion.

Role & Responsibilities

• Develop and execute open-to-buy budgets, allocation plans and category-specific merchandise selection strategies for assigned boutiques.
• Forecast sales and stock requirements for new launches and carryover lines; prepare in-season and post-season performance analysis to optimise assortment and inventory levels.
• Manage open-to-buy accounts in collaboration with buyers, synthesise buying results and present post-buy findings to senior management.
• Monitor monthly sales and inventory metrics; drive sell-through for seasonal and permanent collections and implement remedial action plans to improve performance.
• Define and maintain min-max levels for permanent stock and oversee automatic replenishment rules to ensure continuity of supply.
• Co-ordinate with customer service, retail planning, logistics and inventory teams to facilitate product supply for launches, store openings and ongoing operations.
• Provide qualitative trend analysis and CRM-derived customer insights to inform short- and long-term buying and assortment decisions.
• Collaborate with regional and international teams on cross-functional projects and ensure alignment between office strategy and boutique execution.
• Implement strategies to minimise aged stock and manage exit strategies for slow-moving items.
• Contribute to annual budgeting, reforecasting and business planning processes aligned with financial objectives.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of merchandise planning, buying or allocation experience; demonstrable experience within fashion or luxury retail advantageous.
• Tertiary qualification in Business, Marketing, Fashion, Merchandising or a related discipline preferred.
• Advanced numerical and analytical capability with proven Excel proficiency.
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of luxury consumer behaviour.
• Proven negotiation, communication and relationship-management skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Eligible to work full-time in Australia (full working rights required).

Skills

Experience

Minimum three years' hands-on experience in merchandise planning, allocation or buying, preferably within the luxury or fashion sectors; experience working with boutique networks and cross-functional commercial teams is highly desirable.

Education

Tertiary qualification in Business, Marketing, Fashion, Merchandising or a related field preferred.

Culture

Hermès fosters a culture rooted in craftsmanship, creative autonomy and meticulous attention to detail. The workplace emphasises long-term brand stewardship, collaborative cross-functional working and respect for artisanal values across commercial and retail operations.