In-Season Trader - Sports Brands

About this role

In-Season Trader

Role Purpose:

To drive and optimise in-season trading performance across banners and countries by aligning sales, stock, and assortment decisions with real-time data insights. The role acts as the central trading link between Buying, Planning, VM, Logistics, and Retail Operations to maximise sell-through, ensure optimal product availability, and improve profitability through effective inventory management, allocation, and cross-functional collaboration.

What you will do

• Building an In-Season Trading community
• Act as the key point of contact for trading across multiple departments, including buying, planning, marketing, logistics, and retail operations.
• Drive collaboration and ensure that trading strategies are integrated into broader business objectives.
• Assist the Planning Manager to test and scale new tools/WoW across different banners.
• Stay updated with industry best practices, new technologies, and trading methodologies.
• Continuously identify opportunities to improve trading processes, tools, and systems for more efficient and effective trading operations.
• Drive cross-functional projects aimed at improving processes and delivering improved business outcomes.
• Develop and lead the in-season trading strategy for the assigned banners, ensuring that the strategy aligns with the company’s business goals.
• Sales and Inventory Strategy
• Oversee sales performance and inventory management across multiple banners/countries, ensuring optimal stock levels and maximising profitability
• Inventory Management:
• Work closely with the buying and planning teams to ensure optimal inventory levels across stores
• Make recommendations for markdowns to optimize stock levels and minimize stockouts or excess inventory
• Work on new replenishment tools to ensure accurate stock allocation and replenishment across countries
• Assortment Optimisation
• Collaborate with the buying and planning teams to analyse the performance of individual products and categories
• Recommend assortment adjustments, product substitutions, or exit strategies to optimize sales and meet customer demand
• Manage Inventory Intake
• Work closely with Supply chain administration, to monitor & manage inventory intake from Suppliers
• Collaborate with logistics to ensure timely product delivery and stock availability
• Advanced Reporting and Insights
• Lead the preparation of detailed reports for senior managers, providing actionable insights and long-term recommendations based on sales, stock, and profitability analysis.
• Analyse sales data, customer insights, and product performance metrics to provide actionable recommendations for assortment adjustments and promotional activities.
• Implements inter-store transfers and Never Out of Stock (NOS) coverage tracking.
• How you will be measured:
• Business Targets
• Allocation accuracy (based on store grading/profiles)
• Inter-store transfer effectiveness (volume moved vs sell-through impact)
• Weeks of stock by store/channel/category
• Sell-through uplift from reallocations
• Product availability (minimize out-of-stocks / overstocks)
• Coverage of NOS lines
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Effective collaboration with Visual Merchandisers to ensure VM strategies are effectively rolled out in each store in a timely manner.
• Effective collaboration with Buyers and Planners to ensure accuracy of OTB.
• Competencies required:
• Strategic planning
• Analytical mindset

- Problem solving skills

• Self-motivated
• Strong collaboration skills / Team player

- Effective communication skills

• Business acumen
• What you will bring to

the role

• Degree/Diploma in business administrator or engineering is a plus.
• Previous experience (1-2 years) in a trading, merchandising, or inventory management role.
• Ability to interpret data and trends.
• Proficiency in planning and inventory management systems. Knowledge of pricing tools and analytics software is a plus.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Familiarity with retail planning, product lifecycle, and fashion retail processes is a plus.
• Valid Maltese Drivers License