Range Manager Assistant Apprentice

Summary

Main Purpose of the Role (brief summary of the role) To provide administrative support on all levels to the Range Manager and Assistant Range Manager to deliver departmental deadlines and targets.

Wage

£15,184 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

N/A

Training course

Buying and merchandising assistant (level 4)

Hours

TBC at the interview stage

36 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Role Responsibilities (expected outcomes, main areas of responsibility & accountability, supervision of team)

• Provide comprehensive administrative and analytical support to the Range Manager and Assistant Range Manager, ensuring effective preparation for trading reviews, sign-off meetings and key departmental milestones.
• Coordinate and prepare catalogue briefs and supporting documentation, working cross-functionally with Creative, Marketing, Merchandising and Product teams to ensure timely and accurate delivery.
• Support commercial decision-making through the management and resolution of failed deliveries, working collaboratively with Quality Control, Merchandising, suppliers and international teams to identify solutions that protect customer experience and business performance.
• Conduct competitor benchmarking and market analysis to identify trends, gaps and commercial opportunities that inform product selection and range development.
• Support the creation and coordination of catalogues, product selections and marketing content, ensuring alignment with commercial objectives, brand direction and key performance indicators.
• Carry out detailed proofing and quality checks of catalogue and marketing materials to ensure accuracy, consistency and optimisation of sales impact.
• Contribute to the development of product selections for catalogue and marketing activity, supporting the presentation of proposals to senior stakeholders for approval.

Job Requirements (experience & knowledge, education & qualifications, soft skills, behaviours)

Essential

• Strong administrative and coordination experience within a commercial, retail or merchandising environment.
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail, particularly in data handling, proofing and documentation accuracy.
• Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new systems, tools and processes.
• Effective communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively across multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated creativity and strong product awareness or commercial sensitivity.

Desirable

Experience working in merchandising, buying support, range planning or retail trading environments.

Performance Measure (KPI’s, metrics, reporting – linking to 1:1 & appraisal documents)

• Timely and accurate delivery of administrative support, analysis and reporting.
• Delivery of catalogue briefs, product selections and proofing activities to agreed deadlines and quality standards.
• Accuracy of product information, documentation and catalogue content.
• Effective management of failed deliveries and support for customer-focused solutions.
• Quality and relevance of competitor and market analysis.
• Positive stakeholder feedback and effective cross-functional collaboration.
• Adherence to departmental processes, deadlines and performance objectives.
• Contribution to process improvements and continuous development of commercial knowledge.

Where you'll work

Damart Head Office – Bingley -
Bowling Green Mills,
Lime St, Bingley
BD97 1AD

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

SCL EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED

Training course

Buying and merchandising assistant (level 4)

What you'll learn

• Uses their market/industry knowledge to contribute to new product development and innovation
• Contributes to the building of customer focused ranges to meet the brand identity of the business
• Ensures product quality and legal compliance by working within industry standards, regulations and legislation to source, purchase and sell goods
• Ensures accurate implementation of the critical path prioritising actions accordingly
• Negotiates in a manner that balances the need for a sound financial return, with the need to operate ethically, honestly and fairly
• Monitors agreed performance targets with suppliers to manage ongoing supplier relationships
• Applies the organisation strategy to buying and/or merchandising to ensure strategic objectives are met
• Applies an ethical and sustainable approach to the buying and merchandising process in line with policies and procedures to achieve legal compliance
• Ensures the agreed route to market is delivered and maintained successfully so that objectives are met
• Works with external and internal departments (for example, marketing, distribution, suppliers) to build relationships to drive sales activity and support the delivery of the business objectives across all channels
• Uses data to support decisions to influence both the strategic and operational direction of the buying and/or merchandising approach.
• Demonstrates accurate application of systems in analysing data (for example, customer trends, buying patterns, stock rotation and levels)
• Evaluates commercial performance to support proposed actions for both good and poor product performers
• Demonstrates anticipation of customer buying and product patterns to forecast future demand
• Articulates relevant ideas and opinions towards trends and competitor activity so that opportunities may be identified
• Applies customer profile/trend data to inform the development of a range, products and services
• Formulates and communicates customer propositions
• Develops self and individuals to improve personal and team performance and capability
• Demonstrates commercial buying and merchandising within a financial framework
• Operates in a manner that produces the required financial rate of return for the business
• Coaches and mentors new/less experienced colleagues
• Analyses and presents business data to support achievement of business strategies, brand and KPIs
• Ensures effective stock management to support the delivery of the sales and profit forecasts
• Uses their market/industry knowledge to contribute to new product development and innovation
• Contributes to the building of customer focused ranges to meet the brand identity of the business
• Ensures product quality and legal compliance by working within industry standards, regulations and legislation to source, purchase and sell goods
• Ensures accurate implementation of the critical path prioritising actions accordingly
• Negotiates in a manner that balances the need for a sound financial return, with the need to operate ethically, honestly and fairly
• Monitors agreed performance targets with suppliers to manage ongoing supplier relationships
• Applies the organisation strategy to buying and/or merchandising to ensure strategic objectives are met
• Applies an ethical and sustainable approach to the buying and merchandising process in line with policies and procedures to achieve legal compliance
• Ensures the agreed route to market is delivered and maintained successfully so that objectives are met
• Works with external and internal departments (for example, marketing, distribution, suppliers) to build relationships to drive sales activity and support the delivery of the business objectives across all channels
• Uses data to support decisions to influence both the strategic and operational direction of the buying and/or merchandising approach.
• Demonstrates accurate application of systems in analysing data (for example, customer trends, buying patterns, stock rotation and levels)
• Evaluates commercial performance to support proposed actions for both good and poor product performers
• Demonstrates anticipation of customer buying and product patterns to forecast future demand
• Articulates relevant ideas and opinions towards trends and competitor activity so that opportunities may be identified
• Applies customer profile/trend data to inform the development of a range, products and services
• Formulates and communicates customer propositions
• Develops self and individuals to improve personal and team performance and capability
• Demonstrates commercial buying and merchandising within a financial framework
• Operates in a manner that produces the required financial rate of return for the business
• Coaches and mentors new/less experienced colleagues

Training schedule

The apprentice will receive full on the job training and 20% off the job training, they will also receive a full wrap around service from SCL.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• Maths (grade 4)
• English (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Attention to detail
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills

Other requirements

Colleague discounts 50% off all Damart own-brand products, exclusive perks and discounts at 100s of retailers with Lifeworks, 20% off EE line rentals for up to 5 people and discounted rail travel. Subsidised onsite restaurant & free parking Full access to our delicious onsite restaurants at our Head Office in Bingley and our Logistics site in Steeton. Both sites also offer free car parking. Shower Facilities Whether you're running or cycling to work or hitting the town at the end of your day, take advantage of our shower & changing facilities at our two main sites. Pension & Holiday We offer an auto-enrolment pension scheme as well as peace of mind benefits, death in service - plus a generous holiday entitlement.