Manager - Planning Apparel FZCO

Objective:

This position is responsible for forecasting, planning, and managing merchandise inventory to ensure optimal stock levels, efficient product flow, and achievement of sales, margin, and markdown targets. The role involves analyzing sales trends, monitoring inventory performance, and collaborating across departments to align planning with business objectives and market dynamics.

Key Responsibility:

• Build the Profit & Loss framework on which annual sales budgets are designed to ensure store-level profitability.
• Track weekly budget performance and like-for-like growth, driving stores toward achieving daily targets with adjustments based on market demand.
• Manage inventory levels and critical stock flows for each season, flag delays, and adjust forward cover based on performance.
• Maintain strong OTB (Open-to-Buy) discipline and align inventory inflows with assortment plans and seasonal requirements.
• Ensure the department meets target margins and first-price sell-through goals for each season.
• Oversee merchandise mix planning across stores based on set guidelines and ensure adequate coverage.
• Monitor and maintain Never Out of Stock (NOS) merchandise in line with seasonal requirements and optimum store levels.
• Launch new products and categories across stores with timely replenishment to avoid loss of sales opportunities.
• Conduct weekly inter-store consolidations to maximize sell-through and minimize inventory inefficiencies.
• Collaborate with operations, buying, finance, logistics, and marketing teams to drive cross-functional alignment.
• Track business performance on a weekly basis using WSSI (Weekly Stock, Sales & Intake) reports, sales targets, and replenishment metrics.
• Plan and implement markdowns and promotions strategically to maintain inventory freshness and drive margin improvements.
• Conduct periodic inventory ageing reviews to avoid overstocking and manage periodic clearance cycles effectively.
• Perform regular market visits to gather competitor insights, pricing strategies, and understand customer preferences.
• Coordinate with brand principals through regular calls to review performance and implement market-aligned strategies.
• Develop and roll out incentive plans for store staff to drive performance and boost front-end motivation. 
• Conduct country-wide store visits to assess sales performance and identify improvement opportunities.

Desired Expereince:

• 6-8 years of progressive experience in merchandise planning, supply chain, or logistics within the retail industry.
• Strong understanding of inventory management, retail analytics, and market trends.
• Proven ability to develop sales forecasts, manage budgets, and align planning with business strategy.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field is preferred.