Debenhams Group

Head of Commercial 12 Month FTC

🇬🇧 London, GB On-site Operations & Project Management Contract Lead Posted May 12, 2026
LocationLondon, GB
WorkplaceOn-site
EmploymentContract
SeniorityLead
CategoryOperations & Project Management
LanguageEnglish
PostedMay 12, 2026
Last verifiedMay 12, 2026

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Key details
1 location, Operations & Project Management, On-site, Lead, Contract
Current openings
17 active jobs
Original language
English
Source and freshness
Collected from public career pages and reviewed through JobGrid.eu source availability checks. Last verified: May 12, 2026.
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JobGrid.eu sends candidates to the original application page and adds non-personal referral parameters.

At Debenhams Group, we are continuing our transformation, evolving our brands, products, and global reach at pace. As part of this journey, Karen Millen plays a key role within our premium portfolio, known for elevated design, quality craftsmanship and a confident, modern aesthetic.

 

We are looking for an experienced Head of Commercial to join us on a 12-month fixed-term contract. This is a business-critical role, responsible for strengthening our commercial planning capability, driving performance, and ensuring we have the structure, processes and governance in place to support continued multi-channel growth.

 

THE ROLE

Sitting at the centre of the business, this role will act as the commercial engine, owning end-to-end planning, trading performance and cross-functional alignment. You will be responsible for embedding a robust, data-led commercial framework, ensuring clear ownership of sales, stock and margin, while driving performance across a complex, multi-channel landscape.

 

This role will bring structure, pace and clarity to how we plan, trade, and deliver product, enabling scalable growth and improved profitability.

 

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Commercial Planning & Performance

  • Own and evolve the WSSI and budgeting process, partnering closely with Finance to align on budget phasing and forecasts
  • Drive performance across sales, margin and stock, identifying risks and opportunities and taking decisive action
  • Deliver clear visibility and control across trading performance at the category and channel level

 

Multi-Channel Commercial Ownership

  • Lead performance across a complex, multi-channel landscape including:
    • Own Buy
    • 3rd Party
    • Marketplace
    • Licensing
    • Collaborations
  • Ensure consistent, optimised trading across each route to market

 

End-to-End Product & Trading Alignment

  • Partner with Buying and Design to implement a fully integrated product planning process
  • Ensure alignment between range planning, intake and trading strategy
  • Identify gaps and opportunities across the product lifecycle to maximise performance

Critical Path & Delivery

  • Oversee critical path management, ensuring product moves efficiently from concept through to the warehouse
  • Improve speed to market and minimise delays across the supply chain

 

Cross-Functional Leadership

  • Act as the key connector between Marketing, Design, Buying and Finance
  • Align teams on product, trading priorities and investment decisions
  • Drive pace, accountability and collaboration across functions

 

Team Leadership & Capability Building

  • Lead and develop a high-performing commercial/merchandising function
  • Introduce structure, process and best practice across ways of working
  • Support the development of internal talent, including upskilling a Senior Merchandiser with a view to succession

 

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

  • Significant experience in a senior commercial or merchandising leadership role within fashion retail or e-commerce
  • A strong core merchandising background, with deep expertise in planning, trading and stock management
  • Proven experience operating across multiple sales channels, including wholesale, marketplace, shop-in-shop and licensing
  • Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to drive profitable growth and performance at scale
  • Experience owning and managing WSSI, budgeting and forecasting processes
  • Confident stakeholder manager, able to influence at senior level and drive cross-functional alignment
  • Strong leadership capability, with experience in building and developing high-performing teams
  • Data-driven, with the ability to translate insight into clear actions
  • Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving business environment

WHY JOIN US

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the commercial future of Karen Millen, driving performance across a global, multi-channel business within a group that is evolving at pace.

 

You’ll have real ownership, visibility and impact, working at the centre of decision-making and helping to build a scalable, best-in-class commercial function.

Our benefits include (subject to level and eligibility):

  • Highly competitive bonus scheme, company pension, share schemes, private medical cover and life assurance
  • 20% discount across all brands
  • Comprehensive wellbeing package
  • Ongoing learning and development with strong internal progression
  • Interest-free season ticket loan

 

#LI-ER1 #DebenhamsGroup #Karenmillen #commercial #merchandising #multichannel #retail

 

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