Head Of Merchandise

UFS Healthcare is seeking a qualified and experienced Head of Merchandise to join our Customer Team.

About UFS Healthcare
UFS Healthcare is a not-for-profit healthcare company committed to empowering more people to live longer, healthier lives. Established in 1880, we have been operating health services for over 142 years. As a mutual organisation owned by our members, we invest our profits back into the business for the benefit of more than 100,000 members, as well as our patients, customers, and the wider community.

Headquartered in Ballarat, we:

• operate 19 pharmacies across the western region of Victoria delivering health services beyond dispensing
• offer a range of services through our three medical centres
• provide non-emergency medical care, free of charge to our local community through the Ballarat Priority Primary Care Centre (PPCC)
• operate Supercare Nursing Services across Victoria, providing after-hours nursing services to the communities we serve.

Our collective vision for the next ten years is to be a leading partner in connecting more people to high quality, integrated healthcare across our regions. We believe UFS is uniquely placed to deliver on this vision, which will see us expand and diversify the health services that we offer, both in Ballarat and across our regions to improve access for more people to high quality, personalised and affordable healthcare.

The role

Full Time shifts from Monday to Friday. Based at the UFS Head Office, 206 Armstrong St North, Ballarat, with work from home flexibility.

As a key member of the senior leadership team the Head of Merchandise will lead their team to deliver and improve maximum category sales and gross margin performance across the retail offerings at UFS Healthcare. They will oversee the selection of suppliers and product ranging that best meets the needs of our customers and delivers our organisational purpose. The role has accountability for suppliers, key processes and policies/procedures related to buying/merchandise function.

The Head of Merchandise will be an inspiring force who will work to build collaborative and productive relationships with all key stakeholders including suppliers, operations, pharmacy and customer teams.

What we offer

• Supportive team environment with training and development opportunities
• Flexibility of working in the office and at home once training is completed
• Monthly rostered day off
• Reward and recognition program
• Employee Assistance and Wellbeing program

About you

Mandatory

• 5-8+ years' experience in retail buying/category management.
• Solid commercial and analytical skills
• Extensive experience in developing and implementing merchandise planning strategies to achieve sales, margin, and inventory targets.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and problem solving skills
• Experience of working in a fast-paced retail environment with strong buying/category management experience
• High level of numerical and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated integrity, and commitment to the purpose and guiding principles of UFS.
• Bachelor of business degree (or equivalent)
• Ideally you will have pharmacy industry experience and be currently at Senior Category or Merchandise Manager level (or equivalent).

For further information please contact Senior People &
Culture Officer, Jodie Kennedy on:

Please note:
You must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (including boosters) and have the right to live and work in Australia to apply for this position.