Senior Merchandise Planner - Level Shoes (1 year contract)

Senior Merchandise Planner - Level Shoes (1 year contract) Chalhoub Group

Job Description

We are seeking a highly analytical and strategic Senior Merchandise Planner to join our dynamic merchandising team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for driving sales and profitability through effective inventory management, strategic planning, and forecasting. This role requires a strong understanding of data analytics, market trends, consumer behaviour, and omnichannel operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define the sales plan and OTB by partnering with Buying, Finance, Retail, and Ecommerce business to develop the merchandise strategy, using data-driven input from sales trends, market conditions and supplier demands to drive profitable decision making.
• Develop and maintain Monthly Sales and Stock Intake (MSSI) plans to ensure optimal stock levels and maximize sales and margin.
• Lead forecasting and re-forecasting efforts to adjust to market trends and sales performance.
• Lead the development of any of these requirements and models to suit changing business needs or to improve business needs and efficiencies.
• Conduct detailed margin analysis to identify opportunities for profitability improvement and managing risks with a proactive approach.
• Drive seasonal markdowns by item in collaboration with Buying and Retail.
• Maximising sales and gross margin with a mindset of managing inventory levels taking into consideration aging and quality of stock.
• Manage OTB to ensure effective budget utilization and inventory control. Highlighting areas of risk and opportunities turning these into seasonal trading actions.
• Oversee inventory management, ensuring accurate stock management and alignment with sales and stock forecasts.
• Oversee allocation and replenishment for your departments working with retail teams to maintain healthy stock balance across the business.
• Lead efforts to reduce aging stock and improve liquidation processes utilising advanced problem-solving skills to address inventory discrepancies and optimize stock levels.
• Develop and provide Buying with comprehensive range planning strategies by Channel / Region / Store which are aligned with the merchandise strategy and proactively suggest improvements to optimize revenue and profitability through what if scenarios, aligning product assortment with consumer demand and shifting market trends.
• Perform option count analysis and depth analysis to optimize product assortment and availability.
• Ensure adherence to the critical path, managing timelines from OTB and sales plans to end of season actions.
• Conduct trade analysis to understand market trends and consumer preferences, communicating sales or stock risk and opportunities to the wider teams.
• Conduct in-depth sales, margin, and product lifecycle analyses, identify and prioritize growth opportunities and provide actionable insights to senior management.
• Assess and highlight risks and opportunities on sales, gross margin and inventory, based on supply or demand gaps, recommending solutions and actions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align merchandising strategies with overall business objectives.
• Manage the growth and development of junior members of the team instilling into them core merchandising fundamentals and principles.
• Lead planning meetings and strategic decisions, driving continuous improvement initiatives for the betterment of the team and the business and setting best practices across all levels of the Supply Chain team.

What you ll need to succeed

• Bachelor s degree in Business, Merchandising, or related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in merchandise planning, with a minimum of 2 years at the Merchandiser level, preferably in a luxury or multi branded environment.
• Strong analytical skills with a deep understanding of retail math and inventory management principles.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience with merchandise planning and reporting software such as SAP, Oracle and Tableau.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve complex issues.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities.
• Experience with MSSI, WSSI, and OTB management.
• Proven track record of driving sales and profitability through effective merchandise planning.
• Familiarity with critical path management and trade analysis.