Associate Planner

Role overview

Functional responsibilities

• Develop and manage seasonal, annual, and departmental merchandise plans; drive performance against commercial targets.
• Own OTB; review trading performance; analyze sales, stock, and trends; recommend actions to maximize sales and profitability.
• Lead markdown and promotional planning; monitor stock levels, cover, and replenishment across stores.
• Partner with Buying on range planning, forecasting, and buying decisions; manage allocation, replenishment, and inter-store transfers.
• Work with Supply Chain and vendors to improve delivery and stock availability; produce reports, forecasts, updates, and action plans.
• Drive continuous improvement in merchandise planning processes and decision-making.

People and collaboration expectations

• Promote accountability, establish performance standards, and provide timely, balanced feedback.
• Build rapport and relationships, understand group dynamics, and listen empathetically to others.
• Analyze relevant information from diverse sources to define problems before choosing solutions.
• Communicate clearly and adapt messages to different stakeholders.
• Develop skills, apply strengths to new challenges, and seek stretch assignments.
• Make timely, well-informed decisions under uncertainty, seeking input and distinguishing facts from opinions.

Required experience and capabilities

• 7–8 years in merchandise, retail, demand, or commercial planning within retail.
• At least 2 years of hands-on OTB management experience.
• Strong experience in sales forecasting, inventory planning, stock optimization, and trading analysis.
• Experience working with Buying and Merchandising teams and planning across multiple stores, categories, or regions.
• Strong understanding of sales, margin, sell-through, stock turn, cover, and markdown KPIs.
• Advanced Excel and analytical capabilities.

Desirable background

• Experience in fashion, sportswear, lifestyle, department store, beauty, or specialty retail is desirable.
• Experience with planning tools, forecasting systems, or retail ERP platforms is desirable.
• Strong stakeholder management and presentation skills are desirable.

Opportunity