Position: Sr. Planner & Merchandiser 
Job Location: Dubai 
Candidate MUST be in UAE 
Job type: Full time 
Industry: Luxury Fashion 

Job Responsibilities: 

• Conduct Post-Seasonal Analysis to evaluate past performance at Department, Class, Sub-Class, and Item levels to guide future strategies.
• Collaborate with Buyers to propose Seasonal Strategies on Sales, Price Points, Size, Color, and Assortment Dimensions based on past performance and future trends.
• Prepare and propose Seasonal Budgets/OTB (Open-to-Buy) from Brand down to Class/Sub-Class levels, ensuring alignment with financial goals such as Sales, Opening/Closing Stocks, Inflows, Forward Covers, and Sales Margins.
• Develop WSSI (Weekly Sales and Stock Intake) reports, projecting Sales, Opening/Closing Stocks, Forward Covers, and Planned Inflows by month/season.
• Create Store Grading at the Class/Sub-Class levels to determine the appropriate width and depth of ranges for different store sizes (Medium/Small), optimizing stock levels for display capacity.
• Collaborate with Buyers to finalize the Buy Plan (Range Plan) by season, ensuring it aligns with financial targets, inventory needs, and product assortment plans.
• Track and report on performance throughout the season, comparing actual performance against planned objectives, adjusting strategies as needed.
• Ensure the availability of all replenishment items and maintain timely reviews of replenishment orders to prevent stockouts.
• Monitor the flow of stock received in warehouses, ensuring it is allocated to stores and is actively selling. Collaborate with Buyers and Stores to resolve any out-of-stock situations.
• Develop and communicate the allocation plan for seasonal/product launches in collaboration with Buyers, ensuring timely execution for both retail stores and wholesale partners.
• Collaborate with Buyers to align on pricing for new shipments, ensuring it meets target intake margins.
• Propose and manage price adjustments for slow-selling items, ensuring alignment with the Buyer's strategy and obtaining Management approval before communicating actions to Stores.
• Ensure the availability and accuracy of reports measuring performance against the planned objectives, maintaining effective tracking of key KPIs.
•  Maintain systems, ensuring data integrity, and timely updates to reports and systems. Communicate any system enhancement needs to the Line Manager for review

Job Requirements 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Retail Fashion Management, Business Administration, or equivalent from an accredited institution
• Post-Graduate Degree or MBA in Retail Management, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred.
• Minimum 5-6 years of relevant experience in retail planning, particularly in fashion retail.
• Experience in managing financial planning, inventory management, pricing strategies, and open-to-buy (OTB) planning.
• Proven track record of working with Buyers, Merchandisers, and cross-functional teams to meet business goals
• Strong analytical skills with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Merchandise planning expertise with a deep understanding of inventory management, sales forecasting, and assortment planning.
• Strong knowledge of retail financials, including sales, margins, markdowns, and OTB.
• Excellent planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in MS Excel (advanced level for financial tracking and data analysis).
• Strong communication and negotiation skills to interact with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and adapt quickly to changing market dynamics.