Associate Merchandise Planner

Ralph Lauren; Watford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

Company Description
Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.

Position Overview
As an Associate Planner within the Merchandise Planning team at Ralph Lauren, you will play a crucial role in optimizing inventory management, forecasting, and strategic planning to drive business performance. This position requires a blend of analytical skills, business acumen, and collaborative abilities to support the company's merchandise planning efforts. This position requires a detail-oriented individual with strong analytical skills, excellent communication abilities, and a passion for retail and merchandise planning. The ideal candidate will be able to balance data-driven decision-making with strategic thinking to support Ralph Lauren's business objectives.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

1. Critically analyses trade reports, and utilises own knowledge to influence forecasting & promotional/MD planning.
2. Optimises channel availability & take necessary trading actions.
3. Owns line card process and can translate impacts into department WSSI forecasting.
4. Owns department WSSI to reflect short- and long-term risks and opportunities to KPI's, communicating impacts to planner.
5. Finds solutions to achieving EOH stock and average cost turn targets.
6. Leads department/brand hindsight analysis and able to communicate clearly and objectively the key learnings to relevant stakeholders.
7. Partners with buying counterparts to formulate the department forward strategy, and can communicate risks and opportunities associated to planner, beginning to suggest potential solutions.
8. Drives OTB process, utilising the forward strategies created and collaborating with buying counterparts to understand category changes that will impact KPIs, and communicating to management.
9. Oversees seasonal recodes.
10. Responsible for overseeing seasonal markdowns & communication to stores.
11. Deputises for Planner.
12. Leads regular store visits, analysing store reports prior and presenting feedback to team.
13. Understands where RL fits within the wider retail environment through comprehensive competitor analysis, and begins to identify areas of opportunity & risk.
14. To adopt a positive and proactive approach to their own training and development as well as that of their peers.
15. Constantly seeks improvement in processes & increases efficiencies.
16. Coaches and trains team, helping them to acquire the skills & knowledge to be more effective.
17. Supports team in achieving their personal goals.
18. Participates in company initiatives as appropriate.
19. Participates in team wellness & prioritises psychological safety.
20. Creates and maintains strong working relationships within cross-functional teams: Buying, Allocations, ECOM and the retail store teams.
21. Liaises with key stakeholders to review and assist in the formation of the seasonal lessons learnt. Influencing future Buys, using analysis and historical data to ensure commercial decisions are made.

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

1. Strong analytical and numerical mindset.
2. Effective communicator - able to communicate messages clearly and concisely to a variety of audiences.
3. Able to work autonomously, results orientated and able to 'think outside the box'.
4. Able to demonstrate logical analysis and problem-solving skills.
5. Solution orientated with an entrepreneurial attitude.
6. Able to organize, prioritise tasks and manages time well to meet deadlines.
7. Demonstrates self-awareness of their impact on others & seeks feedback on ways to improve.
8. Able to build and maintain productive relationships within team environment.
9. Competent in using Microsoft excel and BI reporting tools.
10. Attention to detail.
11. Able to demonstrate resilience and remain positive during challenging periods.
12. Regularly recognises & praises good work.
13. Leads by example & is a good Associate role model.
14. Desire to have fun at work and an appreciation for product.