Retail Planning Manager

Job description / Role

- Supervising the planning process for sales, inventory, markdown, margin, inventory turns, GMROI by region, outlet and category
- Lead financial analysis and support of the Retail Business Unit to drive profitability and top-line growth
- Continually analyzing and re-forecasting the business, identifying opportunities, risks, and strategies to achieve planned goals
- Evaluate profitability for new sites considering retail parameters, consumer and marketplace mapping
- Guides system enhancements and implementations relating to financial planning and analysis
- Align with and make recommendations to Merchandising regarding seasonal flow strategies

Requirements

- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Sales, Fashion, Marketing or a related field
- 5+ years' experience in Buying, Planning, Allocation and/or Vendor Sales for a multi-store retailer
- Experience in gross margin profitability planning
- Ability to create monthly reports, style-level sales plans, track promotional calendar/events and pre-meeting prep
- Strong and demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and influence others
- Experience in developing an understanding of customers, competitors and retail trends; knowledge of sports apparel and footwear market preferred
- Ability to interpret financial sales data to make decisions and recommendations that impact the business
- Advanced knowledge of MS office applications; proficiency in Excel including creating spreadsheets, complex formulas, pivot tables, etc.
- Experience with planning software/tools and merchandise management systems is preferred
- Ability to work in a matrix environment with multiple business functions
- Deep knowledge of retail planning and retail math as well as a commitment to accuracy and detailed analytics
- Excellent communication, presentation, and meeting facilitation skills

About the Company

Established in 1978, by the Baker family who still own and manage the company today, Gulf Marketing Group is one of the Middle East's leading, family owned companies. Gulf Marketing Group operates regionally, across the GCC and boasts a diverse portfolio of brands, retail outlets and services. Gulf Marketing Group subsidiaries operate in key sectors such as retail and distribution of sporting goods and lifestyle brands, health and fitness, food and food processing, integrated 3PL logistics, real estate, healthcare and pharmacies, education and technology. Since 1978, Gulf Marketing Group has introduced more than 90 international brands into the Middle East, as well as building the reputation of our homegrown brands as reliable and quality driven companies.

We are proud to be one of the top 10 retailers in the Gulf region with:

• More than three decades experience managing international brands in local environments
• A prestigious portfolio of world class brand partners
• Anchor tenancy in all major GCC shopping malls
• A proven track record of securing exclusive retail and distributor agreements
• An experienced management team
• Strong customer relationships