Key Responsibilities

1. Pre‑Season Planning & Framework

· Develop and maintain the seasonal buy planning framework, including financial targets, category mix, and phasing by month/week.
· Establish the OTB (Open‑to‑Buy) plan at category, and store cluster levels, ensuring alignment with sales forecasts, inventory turn targets, and margin goals.
· Create a store‑specific SKU width plan – define the optimal number of styles/references per store based on store tier, space productivity, and local customer demand patterns.

2. In‑Season Analysis & Tracking

· Monitor weekly sales, sell‑through, stock cover, and markdown performance against plan; identify risks and opportunities, and propose timely corrective actions (e.g., re‑phasing, transfers, or promotions).
· Track SKU/store level performance to validate and adjust the width plan throughout the season.
· Provide actionable insights to merchandising and retail teams on best‑sellers, slow‑movers, and size‑curve exceptions.

3. Data Consolidation & Reporting

· Consolidate data from multiple sources (POS, inventory, finance, external benchmarks) to produce clear, concise dashboards and executive summaries.
· Standardise reporting templates and KPIs to enable consistent performance reviews across regions and store formats.

4. Systems & Process Development

· Lead or support the development and enhancement of planning systems and tools (e.g., buy plan systems).
· Collaborate with IT and data teams to automate data feeds, improve data integrity, and reduce manual work.
· Document business requirements, user stories, and test scenarios for system upgrades or new implementations.

5. Cross‑Functional Collaboration

· Partner with Buying, Demand Plan, Business Plan, and Retail Operations to align buy plans with product availability, lead times, and promotional calendars.
· Work with store managers and field teams to validate store‑level assumptions and gather local market intelligence.

---

Qualifications & Experience

· Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, or related field; MBA preferred.
· Minimum 6–8 years of experience in merchandise planning, buying, or inventory management, with at least 2–3 years in a managerial role.
· Proven track record in OTB management and assortment planning for a multi‑store retail environment (fashion, footwear, or FMCG preferred).
· Strong proficiency in Excel, BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI), and retail planning systems (e.g., JDA, Oracle Retail, or similar).
· Experience in system implementation or process automation is a strong plus.

---

Key Competencies

· Analytical mindset with exceptional numerical reasoning and attention to detail.
· Commercial acumen – ability to translate data into business decisions.
· Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
· Proactive, solution‑oriented, and comfortable working in a fast‑paced environment.
· Leadership capability to coach and develop junior planners.