Senior Merchandise Planner

Department: Merchandising Team Reporting to: Senior Manager, Merchandising Role Purpose: Drive regional business performance by owning location-level planning, stock optimization and space management across the region’s store network. Build strong relationships with retail teams to translate on-the-ground insight into actionable plans. Work closely with the Planner, Allocation, Merchandising and Regional teams to create comprehensive store-level plans that maximize sales, profitability and inventory efficiency. Key Accountabilities: Location Planning and Budgeting
• Own location-level planning in the planning tool to meet topline KPIs set by regional leadership team
• Create, maintain and update stretch store-level sales plans aligned with retail targets
• Input daily sales phasing into planning tool aligning with company and regional calendars
• Share retail strategies with Planner to create collaborative Building Blocks
• Contribute market-level insights to seasonal and longer-term strategic planning, including input on store expansion, relocation and closure decisions Trade and Store Optimization
• Review weekly store performance, identifying challenges and opportunities with emphasis on timely resolution
• Creating action plans for focus stores, tracking outcomes and delivering results to the wider teams
• Create and maintain comprehensive store-level calendars tracking events, holidays, weather and local factors that affect sales performance
• Conduct regular market visits to identify opportunities, validate plans and strengthen retail relationships
• Summarize in-market feedback for Region and Global teams, ensuring local insight informs central strategy
• Drive frequent and open communication with Area Managers and store management teams
• Track and report on store-level KPIs including sales vs plan, sell-through, stock cover, availability, sales density and forecast accuracy
• Identify process improvements and efficiencies in branch planning workflows, tools and reporting Stock Optimization and Inventory Management
• Own the replenishment template strategy ensuring that they are flexed in accordance with seasonal demands.
• Managing execution of templates by Allocator
• Identify and recommend opportunities to the Allocator to improve sales performance through stock rebalancing, consolidation and transfers
• Share templates with central planning partners to ensure item forecasts reflect store & Ecom needs
• Partner with Ecom team to review templates to capture gross demand & optimizing fulfil from store rates
• Monitor inventory levels at store level, reviewing stock cover, sell-through & capacities to flag risks and opportunities
• Drive the stock planning requirements for new store openings, store events, capsules and pop-ups, sharing plans with the wider team
• Oversee the intake process to ensure timely delivery of seasonal buys and manage ad hoc delivery needs with customer services
• Participate in S&OE meetings to provide insights into stock management
• Feed into DC long range distribution plans reflecting regional inventory strategies Markdowns and Promotions
• Manage markdown, promotion and end-of-season activity
• Identify where targeted promotions or markdowns are needed within the outlet channel to liquidate stocks, with knowledge of promotional levers and expected results
• Manage regional end of life activities e.g. sample sales
• Ensure markdown strategies align with store needs and that inventory is proactively managed
• Execution of optimal stock flows between full-price and outlet Space and Capacity Management
• Work with the Retail team to understand each store’s individual capacity, fixture layout and space constraints
• Identify upsides from space changes and feed back to the Planner to guide future range plans
• Analyze sales density by department to ensure space allocation is aligned with commercial performance. Maintain and refine store profiles
• Support store refit, remodel and visual merchandising changes with planning input on stock impact and capacity requirements Sizing
• Oversee the sizing strategy for seasonal buys, incorporating changing market and client profile needs
• Analyze size selling profiles by store and region. Qualification/Education
• Graduate calibre individual Experience Required
• 5 years merchandising planning experience within a fashion retail background, preferably within a luxury brand Particular skills/knowledge required
• Advanced Excel skills essential, with the ability to handle large data sets
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills with exceptional reporting capabilities and attention to detail
• Commercial awareness to maximise sales and profit opportunities
• Knowledge of supply chain processes, particularly replenishment systems
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels