Planning Manager - Birkenstock at Ares Holdings

Overview:

• Product Planning and Selection: Identifying customer demand, analysing market trends, and selecting products that meet those needs.
• Inventory Management: Forecasting sales, managing inventory levels, and ensuring products are available in stores or online.
• Pricing Strategies: Developing and implementing pricing strategies and promotions to maximize profitability and meet business targets
• Vendor Management: Building and maintaining relationships with vendors, negotiating contracts, and ensuring a consistent supply of products.
• Merchandising Strategy Implementation: Overseeing the placement of products in stores or online, ensuring proper displays, and managing promotional activities.
• Sales Performance Analysis: Monitoring sales data, identifying trends, and making recommendations for improvement. Including local and regional reporting according to business cadence.
• Budget Management: Managing budgets related to product development, inventory, and merchandising activities.
• Team Leadership: Leading and motivating planning team members.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Working with other departments, such as marketing, sales, and operations, and finance to achieve company goals.
• Forecasting: Forecasting product demand requirements and plan inventory purchases accordingly.

Requirements

• Tertiary education in Planning, Merchandising or any other related field
• 5+ years' experience in a retail trading environment, 2+ years' experience in managing a team
• Advanced Microsoft office ability (Excel advanced)
• Exercise sound judgement based on analysis, experience and fit for purpose
• Strong ability to interpret sales data, tracking and reporting, and knowledge on how to improve these metrics and execute
• Budgeting and reporting skills with a strong understanding of merchandising, demand and supply planning KPI measurements
• Strong customer first service focus and flexible in approach
• Drives collaboration and promotes teamwork
• A strong understanding of lifestyle brands and the market opportunities within the retail, wholesale and e-commerce sector
• Business and commercial acumen