Assistant Planning Manager – Merchandising (Retail)

About the role

The Assistant Planning Manager supports the planning function by developing accurate financial, sales and inventory plans across multiple channels and markets. This role forecasts sales, margin, markdown and inventory requirements, ensuring robust business performance and effective stock management. Collaboration with merchandising, allocation, retail and supply‑chain teams is essential to align and execute plans.

Key responsibilities

• Plan the annual business plan by market and business unit and deliver weekly warehouse sales and stock intake reports.
• Support seasonal and annual sales forecasting, incorporating past performance, trends and business drivers.
• Prepare financial projections for gross profit, margin, markdown and inventory, and track performance versus plan.
• Assist the Planning Manager with business‑unit sales planning, identifying gaps and corrective actions.
• Manage markdown planning, price phasing and promotional analysis to protect margin while achieving sell‑through targets.
• Prepare weekly and monthly performance reports, analysing product, category and store results.
• Collaborate with finance, buying and merchandising teams to validate forecasts and support weekly planning.
• Maintain accurate planning data, product hierarchies and develop dashboards for planning reviews.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Retail Management or a related field.
• 3‑5 years of experience in merchandise planning, financial planning or retail analysis, preferably in fashion or multi‑category retail.
• Proven ability to work under pressure in a fast‑paced retail environment.

Required skills

• Advanced Excel and reporting tools.
• Experience with planning systems such as JDA, SAP.
• Proficiency in Power BI, Tableau and other data visualisation tools.
• Strong analytical and numerical abilities.