Retail Merchandise Planner

Purpose

The Retail Planner is a trusted advisor to the Merchandise Planning team. The primary function of the role is to support the brand strategy and vision across the channel through investment in, and maintenance of, optimum assortments.

The Retail Planner will use strong analytical skills; financial acumen and knowledge of the local market to inform the PC9 buy plans. The Retail Planner must be able to identify key business issues, taking the initiative to investigate and provide analysis on opportunities and risks in the business. This role will work closely with allocation and inventory management partners to ensure effective execution of the end-to-end strategy.

**Responsibilities**:
Pre/Post-Season
- Collaborate with Merchant team to develop customer segment productivity targets (assortment architecture) based on historical performance and strategic direction.
- Conduct ongoing quantitative analysis and insights across various dimensions (Time/Merchandise/Location) to optimize line profitability, monetize new opportunities and identify risks.
- Gather qualitative/quantitative feedback from key stakeholders (Commercial/ Merchandising/ Marketing) in order to inform the direction and focus of future investments.
- Perform detailed post-seasonal analysis on assortment performance in order to better inform investments with robust supporting data.
- Develop bottom-up sales & inventory PC9 plan, delivering to line productivity and informing financial & inventory decisions.
- Partner with Merchant and Inventory teams to build monthly flow plan for sales and inventory, accommodating product lifecycle expectations and markdown forecasts to inform and manage Outlet Flush pipeline.
- Collaborate with Finance and Commercial teams to reconcile bottom-up merchandise plans and top down sales targets.
- Produce and present formal Investment Reviews to the local market as well as region, communicating how the investment decisions will support the aligned business strategy.

In-Season
- Build monthly bottom up demand forecast (item plan) in order to drive effective guidance for allocation, as well as to provide FG Planning with a stable and accurate demand signal.
- Complete a monthly top down sales forecast (RMP) and support rolling OTB framework, proposing relevant changes based on latest sales trends, risks, and inventory health.
- Drive consistent markdown/promotional cadence in order to manage in-season profitability, and maximize full price sell thru/margin whilst maintaining health of inventory profile.
- Effectively manage door capacity, closeout cleanses from Mainline, and MFO/Flush Mix in Outlet according to changing needs of the market in season (monitor and react.).
- Actively support local and regional S&OP process, providing necessary insights and recommending courses of action.
- Work with inventory management to ensure consistent in-season allocation & replenishment to drive appropriate coverage across stores and DC.
- Work with Inventory Management, Asset Recovery and Commercial/Finance teams to manage through inventory spikes beyond the capacity of Outlet.
- Bridge the communication between regional and local functional teams to ensure ways of working and brand strategy are consistently executed in local market.

**Requirements**:

- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience with at least 5 years of work experience in Retail business.
- Strong analytical skills to interpret meaningful themes from quantitative data.
- Ability to articulate key financial measures, and how they are used in key systems/tools.
- Comfort with systems and high proficiency with Microsoft Office (PowerPoint and Excel).
- Prior experience with planning solutions (SAS, Pronto, SAP, etc.) a plus.
- Decision Making and Problem solving skills.
- Good communication skills.

LOCATION

501A, Level 5, Uptown 1,1 Jln SS21/58 Damansara Uptown, Petaling Jaya 47400 Selangor Darul Ehsan, Selangor Malaysia

FULL TIME/PART TIME

Full time