Head of Merchandise

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Join to apply for the Head of Merchandise role at Cotton On Group

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We're an Aussie brand with our feet on the ground and our heart in our people.

• Local and Global career growth – progress your career across our 4 Brands
• 50% off Cotton On Group Brands | Cotton On, Cotton On Body, Cotton On Kids, Typo.
• Discounts for you and your family

The Role

The Head of Merchandising is responsible for enabling the Cotton On brand strategy by leading a high performing multi-brand category team to deliver the merch strategy, maximize sales, profit and reduce liability.

We're looking for a commercially sharp, values-led leader to head up the Merchandise function for Cotton On Africa. A strategic partner to the Country Manager and global brand teams, this role is responsible for enabling our brand strategy through smart, locally grounded merchandise planning and stock execution.

You'll lead a high-performing team of managers and specialists across brands and categories, shaping plans with global and local partners, driving stock performance across all channels, and delivering strong commercial outcomes.

From allocation precision and timing to sell-through strategies and trading actions, you'll own the in-country execution of product performance, ensuring we land the right stock, in the right place, at the right time. All while fostering a team culture that values curiosity, accountability, and collaboration.

Who are we?

A diverse team of 20,000 around the world who love to think Big and have fun along the way. We develop, reward and recognise our team members, so they can feel empowered to reach their full potential. We know life's more fun when you're free to be you and our team bring their point of difference, making us into the unique global retailer we are today.

Being You can take you places at the Cotton On Group. Join us and let's do good things together.

At Cotton On, we are focused on building a culture centred in belonging, and we are committed to creating workplaces where each individual can show up as their whole self, having an equal opportunity to succeed with us.

We are proud of our diverse global workforce of 20,000 team members from countless nationalities, and we strongly welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply with us.

We are focused on bringing more voices, experiences and backgrounds to our workforce as we drive diverse and inclusive outcomes for our team and our customers.

If you have any individual needs in order to fully participate in the recruitment process, please contact us at so we may support you in completing the job application process.

Desired Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• A relevant bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in Commerce, Business Management, or a related field
• 8 -10 years' experience in Merchandise Planning or Buying, with at least 5 years in senior leadership within Retail apparel space.
• Proven experience delivering commercial outcomes across multiple channels in a complex, fast-paced environment
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical capability, with the ability to connect insight to action quickly
• Demonstrated ability to influence and partner across global teams with confidence, credibility, and clarity
• Deep commercial acumen with a track record in optimizing stock productivity, margin, and trade performance
• A people-first leadership style with a strong focus on coaching, capability building, and accountability
• Exceptional communicator who brings others along and builds trust across functions
• Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills, grounded in curiosity and business context
• Comfortable working in a matrix with the ability to navigate complexity and lead through collaboration
• Known for integrity, resilience, and building high-impact relationships that deliver results
• Passionate about customer connection, execution excellence, and enabling great work through great leadership

About Us

From Australia to the world - The Cotton On Group (known in-house as COG) is Australia's largest global retailer. With 7 brands, 19 countries, 1500 stores and counting; we exist to make a positive difference in the lives of everyone we touch. Our people are optimistic, innovative and highly motivated; they share a genuine belief in themselves and others and they aren't afraid to think big.

About the Team

Cotton On is the founding brand of the Group and has grown to become a global fashion destination with over 600 stores worldwide. We thrive on delivering the trends of the moment (always with our own twist) and inspire our community to have fun with it. Our product offering includes womenswear, menswear and accessories.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Executive

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Product Management and Management

• Industries

  Retail and Retail Apparel and Fashion

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