Trading Manager – Debenhams
The Opportunity
We're looking for a commercially sharp, analytical and results-driven Trading Manager to join the Debenhams brand team.
This is a high-profile role at the heart of our trading operation, working closely with the Commercial Director to drive sales, profitability and performance across one of Britain's most recognised retail brands. You'll play a key role in shaping and delivering our trading plans across Marketplace, Fashion Brands, Beauty and Premium Brands, while supporting growth opportunities across Outlet and International markets.
We're looking for someone who lives and breathes trading. Someone who understands the numbers, spots opportunities quickly, knows which levers to pull and can bring teams together to make things happen. From daily trading performance and promotional planning to major retail events and longer-term growth initiatives, you'll help ensure we're making the right commercial decisions, at pace.
This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced ecommerce trading professional who thrives in a fast-moving, ambitious and commercially driven retail environment.
*Please note: We need genuine ecommerce trading experience. We need someone who understands promotional mechanics, conversion, margin and daily sales performance; not someone whose background is predominantly ecommerce content, website management or digital marketing.
What You'll Be Doing
Trading Performance & Commercial Delivery
- Work closely with the Commercial Director to deliver the trading strategy and drive sales and profitability across Debenhams.
- Monitor daily and weekly performance across Marketplace, Fashion Brands, Beauty and Premium Brands, identifying opportunities, risks and actions.
- Analyse key trading metrics including traffic, conversion, average order value, retention, revenue and margin.
- Turn data and insight into clear, actionable recommendations that improve commercial performance.
- Support trading plans for UK and International markets, ensuring priorities are aligned with business objectives.
- Identify opportunities to grow emerging revenue streams, including Outlet and International.
Promotional Planning & Execution
- Support the development and delivery of the promotional calendar, ensuring activity drives sales while protecting profitability.
- Work with senior leaders to agree promotional priorities, trading opportunities and commercial actions.
- Coordinate trading activity around key retail moments, seasonal campaigns, peak periods and brand activations.
- Review promotional and campaign performance, using insight to continuously improve future activity.
- Keep a close eye on competitors, market trends and customer behaviour to identify new opportunities.
Trading Insight & Reporting
- Play a key role in daily and weekly trading meetings, providing clear performance updates, insight and recommendations.
- Produce accurate, commercially focused trading reports for the Commercial Director and Senior Leadership Team.
- Highlight performance gaps, emerging risks and opportunities, recommending practical actions to improve results.
- Champion a data-led approach to trading, ensuring decisions are based on insight and commercial impact.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Bring together Trading, Buying, Merchandising, Finance, Marketing, Ecommerce, Paid Media and CRM teams around shared commercial priorities.
- Ensure promotional activity, marketing investment and customer experience are aligned to deliver the strongest possible trading performance.
- Support the Commercial Director in driving accountability, pace and effective decision-making across the business.
- Balance day-to-day trading priorities with new commercial projects and growth initiatives.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for a commercially minded trading professional who combines strong analytical ability with the confidence and energy to drive performance.
You'll ideally bring:
- Strong experience in ecommerce trading, digital trading or commercial roles within a fast-paced retail or online retail business.
- A proven track record of driving sales, conversion, revenue and profitability.
- Experience trading across multiple categories, brands or business areas.
- Excellent understanding of ecommerce KPIs, promotional mechanics, customer behaviour and the levers that drive commercial performance.
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to turn complex data into clear commercial actions.
- Experience planning and delivering major promotional campaigns and peak trading events.
- Confidence working with and influencing senior stakeholders across multiple functions.
- A collaborative approach, with the ability to challenge, influence and drive accountability.
- Strong commercial judgement, attention to detail and the ability to make decisions quickly.
- A proactive, hands-on mindset and the ability to thrive in a business where priorities move quickly.
Above all, we're looking for someone who understands what great trading looks like, can spot an opportunity in the numbers and has the drive to turn insight into results.
Why Join Debenhams?
Debenhams is one of Britain's most recognised retail brands, with an exciting future ahead.
As we continue to grow our marketplace, strengthen our brand proposition and expand our commercial opportunities, we're looking for talented people who want to make a real difference.
This is an opportunity to work at the centre of the Debenhams trading operation, alongside senior commercial leaders, with genuine visibility and the chance to influence business performance.
You'll be based at our Debenhams Group HQ, 49–51 Dale Street, Manchester, working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where ideas, ownership and results really matter.
Location: Manchester HQ – 5 days a week on-site.
Our Benefits
Subject to level and eligibility, our benefits include:
- Competitive bonus scheme, company pension, share schemes, private medical cover and life assurance
- Generous discounts across our brands
- On-site gym and free weekly Pilates, yoga and fitness classes
- Comprehensive wellbeing package
- Dog-friendly offices in selected locations
- Ongoing learning and development with opportunities for progression
- On-site canteen serving breakfast, lunch, snacks and hot drinks
- Interest-free season ticket loan
Ready to help drive the next chapter of Debenhams? We'd love to hear from you.