Forecasting and Stock Manager

Internal use only - Grade E 

About us

We’re the team behind digital retailer Very.  

Our purpose, helping families get more out of life, powers everything we do.  

And we want our people to get more out of life too! If you’re high-performing, ambitious and make the most of every opportunity, we want to hear from you. In return, you’ll enjoy heaps of flexibility, great perks and benefits, and the freedom to be yourself, keep learning and take your career wherever you want it to go.  

If you love making a difference, you’ll love making it sparkle for millions of Very customers. ✨ 

About the team 

We are seeking a Forecasting & Stock Manager to join our exciting and dynamic Toys department based at our Speke Head Office.   

This role is essential for providing effective leadership, support, and guidance to our Forecasting and Stock Planners.   

You will leverage your expertise to enhance their skills and knowledge, serving as a single point of contact for the wider department and Senior Management Team regarding forecasting and stock health.  

About the role 

As the Forecasting & Stock Manager, you will:  

• Own and lead stock planning and forecasting for the assigned category and wider department, partnering with the Senior Category Manager to build a robust trade plan aligned to budgeted KPIs and P&L goals. 

• Provide strategic oversight and guidance on forecasting and stock planning processes, methodologies and best practice to the team; act as the department’s single point of contact, delivering regular updates on stock and forecasting health to senior leaders. 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and senior stakeholders (e.g., Head of Supply Chain), acting as an escalation point for brands to support long‑term planning and strategy. 

• Lead, mentor and develop Forecasting and Stock Planners, providing direction, knowledge sharing and support to foster capability and growth. 

About you 

We know our expectations are high, as are our ambitions as a business. We understand that one candidate may not have all the experience listed below.  

The ideal candidate will be ambitious, driven, and proactive, capable of leading business change and driving benefits through adoption and a culture of continuous improvement. Strong numerical, analytical, and communication skills are essential. Experience in merchandising, stock planning, statistics, or other commercial roles is a great platform for anyone interested in applying.  

Skills and experience:  

• Strong commercial acumen with a demonstrated analytical capability.  

• Expert knowledge and experience in stock and sales management.  

• Deep understanding of retail merchandising principles, including product assortment planning, inventory management, pricing strategies, and promotional activities.  

• Ability to prepare and present reports and insights to senior management, providing recommendations based on data-driven analysis.  

• Strategic thinking and the ability to develop long-term plans and strategies for the forecasting and stock planning function.  

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make data-driven decisions.  

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills to collaborate effectively with suppliers, vendors, and internal stakeholders.  

• Demonstrated leadership skills and experience in guiding a team.  

• Ability to provide mentorship, support, and direction to team members, fostering their growth and development.  

Some of our benefits  

• Flexible, hybrid working model  

• Inclusive culture and environment, check out our Glassdoor reviews  

• £1000 flexible benefits allowance to suit your needs  

• 30 days holiday + bank holidays  

• LinkedIn Learning access  

• Bonus potential (performance and business-related)  

• Up to 25% discount on Very.co.uk  

• Matched pension up to 6%  

• More benefits can be found on our career site  

How to apply  

Please note that the talent acquisition team are managing this vacancy directly, and if successful in securing this role, you will be required to undertake a credit, CIFAS, Right to Work checks and if a specific requirement of your role a DBS (criminal records) check. Should your application progress we require you to let the team know if there is anything you need to disclose in relation to any of these checks prior to them being undertaken, including any unspent criminal convictions.   

What happens next?  

Our talent acquisition team will be in touch if you’re successful so keep an eye on your emails! We’ll arrange a short call to learn more about you, as well as answer any questions you have. If it feels like we’re a good match, we’ll share your CV with the hiring manager to review. Our interview process is tailored to each role and can be in-person or held remotely.   

You can expect a one stage interview process for this position:   

1st stage - A one hour face-to-face interview with the hiring team to discuss your skills and relevant experience + competency questions. This is also a great opportunity to find out more about the role and to ask any questions you may have.   

As an inclusive employer please do let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments.   

If you'd like to know more about our interviews, you can find out here.  

Diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities 

We’re building a culture of everyday inclusion, and welcome applications from anyone who believes they can do the job. We don’t discriminate based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. 

We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you need reasonable adjustments to apply, interview, or perform a role, let us know via [email protected]. We’ll be happy to support you. 

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer and have nine brilliant colleague networks - including DAWN (Disability Awareness at Very) and Think (Neurodiversity at Very) - that are helping us make Very an even more inclusive place to work.