Manager, Planning (12 Month Contract)

Holt Renfrew offers you an inspiring, fashion-driven environment with opportunities to learn and grow. From our incredible partnerships with iconic luxury brands to our commitments to corporate social responsibility, you will be inspired every day.

A job at Holt Renfrew offers a competitive total compensation, a generous employee discount, pension, and health & dental benefits, tuition assistance, and continuous learning and development.

Manager, Planning (12 month Contract)

The Planning Manager is responsible for overseeing and delivering divisional level multi-dimensional planning and inventory management processes. Leading a team, the role influences and guides the execution of planning, forecasting and inventory management initiatives in collaboration with the buying team to maximize profit.

Key Responsibilities

1. Manage divisional merchandise plans that align with corporate strategy and deliver maximum full price sales and profit.
2. Interpret corporate direction and ideal metrics to create a robust multi-dimensional plan to achieve required results.
3. Build a strong partnership with merchant/buying/store counterparts to collaborate on planning decisions and opportunities.
4. Interpret appropriate levels of end of season analysis to support optimizing planning and buying decisions.
5. Work cross-functionally to ensure planning input is collaborative.
6. Identify and implement opportunities for inventory, buying and full price sell-through improvement.
7. Review and present plans and ensure cross-functional targets/requirements are shared & understood.
8. Manage in-season performance through the reforecasting cycle to improve inventory productivity and drive profit.
9. Review and present forecasts across all relevant metrics and hierarchies to ensure a clear understanding of opportunities and risks.
10. Interpret appropriate levels of in-season analysis to drive inventory recommendations & decisions including managing divisional open to buy.
11. Collaborate with merchant/buying counterparts to follow through on opportunities to mitigate risk and drive sales, full price sell-through & profit.
12. Work with Planners, Assistant Planners and Allocation Analysts to manage inventory levels to maximize opportunity across the network.
13. Manage approach for Demand Forecasts/Auto-Replenishment models and oversee open to buy accordingly.
14. Manage markdown inventory and proposals on price reductions to drive profitable sell-through.
15. Collaborate with merchant/buying counterparts to review and manage markdown cadence and proposed markdowns.
16. Review markdown performance and manage recommendations for action to balance margin and off-price sell-through.
17. Review and present carryover proposals that ensure optimized inventory performance.
18. Forecast and follow-up on performance of promotional, marketing and other events.
19. Manage recommendations on event activity based on inventory performance analysis.
20. Propose sales and profit impacts and manage relevant inventory alignment and actions.
21. Review and present analysis on event results and interpret future opportunities.
22. Lead and develop a team of high performing Planners, Assistant Planners and Allocation Analysts.
23. Take the opportunity to participate in and champion projects.
24. Collaborate with peers across planning to ensure consistent, best practice processes, systems and reporting.
25. Prepare performance presentation data where requested.
26. Present findings and results to cross-functional audiences as required.
27. Build effective partnerships with internal contacts e.g. merchants, buyers, stores, supply chain, finance, marketing.
28. Manage the development of processes, systems and reports.
29. Perform other duties as assigned.

1. Post-secondary degree in a related field or equivalent experience (MBA or Bachelor's degree in Business / Retail Management preferred).
2. 5-7 years of post-university work experience, including 3+ years supervisory or management experience in a retail merchandise planning business unit.
3. Demonstrated leadership and influencing skills with the ability to get things done.
4. Excellent interpersonal skills; a team player who is able to act as both a leader and an individual contributor as required.
5. Confident and effective written & verbal communicator.
6. Adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity and change.
7. Highly proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and use of ERP and Merchandise Planning systems.
8. Passionate about fashion and luxury retailing.

Holt Renfrew is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Our future success depends on the perspectives and contributions of all our employees -- their diverse backgrounds, abilities and experiences make our business stronger. If you are contacted for a job opportunity and require accommodation, please email careers@holtrenfrew.com and let us know so we can ensure you have an accessible candidate experience throughout the recruitment process. All requests are confidential and used only to meet candidate needs.