About the Networks
Worklocker is one of Australia's leading workwear franchise retail chains, with a national store network supplying workwear, PPE, safety equipment and uniforms to workers and businesses across the country.
IWS Australia (Independent Workwear Stores) supports a separate network of independently owned workwear retailers under a shared buying and support model. Both networks are driven by a National Support Office on the Gold Coast, where merchandise strategy, buying power and supplier relationships are centralised to benefit every store in the group.
This is a business built on product knowledge, trusted local supplier relationships underpinned by a strong track record of sustained growth and getting the right solutions to our customers. This role sits at the heart of it all.
About the Role
This is a senior, end-to-end merchandise leadership role - not a coordination job. You'll own the product strategy across both networks: from range architecture and core range reviews, through to collated buying programs, exclusive brand management, supplier negotiations, trading terms and promotional catalogue execution. The focus is on optimising range for relevance, sales, margin and profit growth. This role will create a deep impact for our franchisees through results.
You'll work directly with franchisees, independent store owners and a lean support office team to make sure both networks are commercially sharp, competitively ranged and supported by strong supplier partnerships. Your decisions will move product across hundreds of stores - so you'll need to be both strategic and hands-on.
Key Responsibilities
Product Knowledge & Range Management
* Own and continuously develop deep product knowledge across workwear, PPE, safety footwear, uniforms, and accessories - understanding what sells, what doesn't and why
* Lead core range architecture for Worklocker, ensuring ranges are commercially viable, competitively positioned and aligned to the needs of diverse store locations and customer bases
* Conduct regular core range reviews, using sales data, supplier input and franchisee/store owner feedback to rationalise, refresh and grow the assortment
* Manage new product introductions end-to-end - from category fit assessment through to ranging decisions, supplier briefing and in-store launch support
* Oversee private label and product development programs across workwear, PPE and uniforms, ensuring quality, margin and brand alignment
Collated Buying Programs
* Design and run collated buying programs across both the Worklocker franchise network and IWS stores - consolidating volume to maximise buying power and supplier leverage
* Work with franchisees and independent store owners to build participation in collated buys, communicating the commercial case clearly and managing the administrative process efficiently
* Track collated buy performance, managing intake, allocation and any over/under supply issues across the network
Trading Terms & Supplier Negotiations
* Lead supplier trading terms negotiations across both networks, covering pricing, rebates, settlement discounts, payment terms, exclusivity provisions, and promotional support commitments
* Structure and formalise trading terms agreements that protect both networks commercially and create genuine value for franchisees and independent store owners
* Review and renegotiate terms on a scheduled cycle, benchmarking against market and driving continuous improvement in commercial outcomes
* Manage supplier performance against agreed terms, escalating and resolving issues promptly where partners fail to deliver
PIM Management & Product Data Integrity
* Own the Product Information Management (PIM) system as the single source of truth for product data across both networks - ensuring accuracy, completeness and consistency at all times
* Maintain and govern product master data including SKUs, descriptions, attributes, pricing, images and supplier codes - with zero tolerance for data gaps that impact store operations or customer experience
* Manage the end-to-end product onboarding process, ensuring new products are fully set up in the PIM before they hit the range, no half-built records, no workarounds
* Audit product data regularly across both networks, identifying and resolving discrepancies between the PIM, ERP and supplier data
* Work with operations, IT and suppliers to improve data quality at the source- building processes that keep the catalogue clean as the range grows
* Support integration between the PIM and downstream systems (ERP, e-commerce, catalogues) to ensure product data flows accurately across every touchpoint
Exclusive Brands & Supplier Partnerships
* Build and manage exclusive brand arrangements and supplier partnerships that give both networks genuine competitive advantage in the market
* Identify and develop exclusive or preferred supplier relationships - negotiating first-to-market access, exclusivity windows or co-branded product ranges where appropriate
* Hold exclusive brand partners accountable to agreed product quality, delivery performance and commercial terms
* Maintain a strong, professional relationship with all key suppliers - acting as the primary commercial contact for the Worklocker and IWS supplier base
Promotional Catalogues & Campaigns
* Plan and execute promotional catalogues end-to-end for Worklocker - from category and product selection through to supplier coordination
* Drive promotional planning calendars, working with suppliers to secure funded support, exclusive promotional pricing, and stock commitments ahead of catalogue go-live
* Partner with the marketing team on product launches, campaigns, and seasonal promotions, ensuring product availability and supplier alignment are in place before anything goes live
* Analyse promotional sell-through data post-campaign to inform future planning and supplier conversations
Network & Stakeholder Partnership
* Work closely with Worklocker franchisees and IWS Australia independent store owners to understand their market, their customer, and their product needs — translating that insight into ranging and buying decisions
* Support both store networks with product training, planogram guidance, and visual merchandising direction to drive in-store sell-through
* Collaborate with operations, marketing, and support office teams to ensure merchandise strategy is embedded across the business
* Analyse sales data and market trends consistently, translating data into clear, actionable decisions across ranging, buying, and promotional planning
About You
* 5+ years' experience in a Merchandise Manager or Senior Buyer role, ideally within workwear, work boots, corporate apparel, uniforms, PPE, safety or an adjacent product category
* Hands-on experience running collated buying programs across a franchise, multi-site, or independent retail network, you know how to consolidate volume and use it
* Strong negotiator with a track record of structuring and managing supplier trading terms agreements that deliver real commercial outcomes
* Proven ability to manage promotional catalogues from concept through to in-store execution, including supplier-funded support and promotional pricing negotiations
* Experience building exclusive brand or preferred supplier arrangements and managing those partnerships to deliver
* A communicator who can work effectively with franchisees, independent store owners and internal teams - direct, pragmatic and commercially minded
* Experience with private label or product development is highly regarded
Why Join Us
* Own the merchandise function across two established national networks Worklocker and IWS Australia - from a single Gold Coast base
* Real scope and autonomy: this role shapes product strategy, supplier relationships and buying programs at a network level
* A down-to-earth, collaborative support office culture where good work is recognised and you're trusted to get on with it