Merchandise Planner

**Position Summary**
We are looking for an experienced Merchandise Planner to work within our portfolio of well known international fashion brands and assist the business in expanding both channels and improving profitability.

**Essential Duties and Responsibilities**
- Preparation of seasonal sales and stock plans, encompassing unit projections, price inflation targeting, and product mix optimization.
- Preparation of Seasonal analysis of each Brand in order to fully understand the performance down to the lowest SKU Level; and to use such analysis for Critical Forward Planning for each Brand.
- Assisting with the compilation of annual sales budgets, with ongoing reforecasts at a store, category and product level to ensure achievability and to rebalance OTB commitments.
- Management of the forward order pipeline with international vendors by ensuring OTB commitments are aligned to the budgeted sales plans and Principal Commercial Contracts.
- Managing the critical path of each brand respectively, to optimise the relevant timelines and ensure key interventions are conducted on time.
- Continual assessment of store performance and implementation of stock management techniques to keep the business aligned to key indicators; including but not limited to effective replenishment to maximise sales performance and market share.
- Providing support to the Brand Manager/s and Head of Planning with the setting and maintenance of prices and margins across the range.
- Compilation of regular management and operational reporting to bring visibility to business operations.
- Working closely with the Brand and Purchasing & Customer Services Teams to formulate commercially practical ranges whilst providing and presenting data that supports informed decision making.
- Working with and providing direction and/or guidance to the allocations team to replenish stock to stores to eliminate lost sales opportunities.
- Work jointly with Store Operations to ensure grading/option plan is in line with space management (pre-season).
- Ensure integration of ratio management in all merchandising activities.
- Ensure that best practice is actioned for in-depth analysis to support buying commitment decisions for each Brand as appropriate.
- Review and action fact-based category input and feedback for internal/external stakeholders.
- Guide the Operational teams for best practice end-to-end in season management including management of best sellers and worst sellers, in season stock cover management, in season reactivity and sales to space management.
- Provide guidance and strategy for execution of end of season stock management.
- Oversee the optimal flow of merchandise including fulfilment of product/marketing introduction deadlines/capacity planning.
- To work collaboratively with Marketing and Brand, Visual Merchandising (VM) and Store Operations.
- To support the Business and Finance Teams when conducting Business Reviews for each of the Brands as appropriate.

**Education and Experience Requirements**
- Essential: Matric
- Desirable: Relevant business related tertiary qualification
- Essential: Minimum 3 years relevant merchandise planning experience in a retail environment.

**Core Competencies**
- Persuading and Influencing
- Analysing
- Deciding and initiating action
- Planning and Organising
- Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
- Presenting and Communicating Information

**Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities**
- Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills
- Negotiation skills
- Communication skills
- Commercial thinking
- Presentation skills
- Knowledge of IT systems and data analytics
- Client account management
- Knowledge of market trends and the retail landscape
- Self - starter and manage own tasks and responsibilities