Senior Planner - Markham

Job Description

• The Planner III is responsible for mentoring the Merchandise Planning Team, projecting future sales into key categories, and optimizing planning processes. This includes managing range assortments and replenishment, implementing distribution strategies, and providing guidance and support to team members.

Responsibilities

• Mentor the Merchandise Planning Team, providing guidance, coaching and support to team members.
• Drive planning performance across the categories through commercial decision-making, trading insight and data-led analysis.
• Manage and optimise a high-value category portfolio, ensuring sales, profitability and inventory objectives are achieved.
• Influence and implement the merchandise strategy, developing and managing category financial plans across sales, stock, margin, GP, closing stock and markdown.
• Project future sales and develop accurate forecasts to support category performance and business objectives.
• Demonstrate a strong trading mindset by identifying opportunities and risks and implementing actions to maximise category performance.
• Analyse sales, stock and trading performance to identify trends, opportunities and risks, implementing corrective actions where required.
• Drive inventory management strategies to optimise stock productivity, availability and working capital investment.
• Manage OTB allowances across in-season and forward planning cycles.
• Develop category strategic, tactical and operational plans to achieve sales, profit, inventory and stock turn targets.
• Manage range assortments and replenishment strategies to ensure the right product is available in the right place at the right time.
• Implement distribution and allocation strategies to maximise product availability and sales performance.
• Optimise planning processes and drive continuous process improvement initiatives.
• Review weekly trading performance with the Buying team and recommend actions to improve category results.
• Partner closely with Buying, Sourcing, Supply Chain and Operations teams to deliver category objectives.
• Prepare and present category performance, forecasts and recommendations in trade and planning meetings.
• Foster collaboration across key stakeholders to ensure effective execution of category plans and business objectives.
• Conduct regular store visits to evaluate trading performance, identify opportunities and enhance commercial decision-making.

Qualifications

• Minimum completed National Diploma or Degree in Business Management, BCom or a related field, with majors in Finance, Statistics, Economics or Mathematics.
• Minimum of 5 years' proven Merchandise Planning experience within a retail environment.
• Must possess strong numerical, analytical and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Must demonstrate strong commercial acumen, a trader mentality and proven inventory management capability.
• Experience planning within an Apparel, Fashion or General Merchandise retail environment would be advantageous.

Skills:

• Analytical Processes
• Commercial Acumen
• Contract Management
• Customer Service Delivery
• Planning & Organising
• Policy & Procedures
• Market Research and Analysis
• Supplier Management
• Requirements Analysis
• Global Sourcing
• Strategic eCommerce

Behaviours:

• Being Resilient - rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations
• Building Effective Teams - forms, develops and leads a group of individuals toward the achievement of a common team objective
• Builds Networks - establishes and nurtures internal and external relationships in order to create robust, and mutually beneficial, partnerships
• Cultivates Innovation - creates an environment that fosters and nurtures a culture of creativity which drives success
• Decision Quality - consistently makes timely, well-rounded and informed decisions
• Drives Engagement - inspires, motivates and empowers individuals to go above and beyond for the benefit of the team and the organisation
• Accountability - takes accountability and ensures others are held to account on agreed upon performance targets
• Manages Complexity - interprets and simplifies complex and contradictory information when resolving organisational problems
• Organisational Savvy - understands and navigates dynamics created by processes, systems, and people
• Situational Adaptability - effectively adjusts their behaviour, approach, and decision-making based on the situation
• Strategic Mindset - thinks and plans strategically, focusing on the long-term goals and objectives of the organisation