Senior Merchandise Planner

Job description / Role

Overview

Azadea Group is a premier lifestyle retail company that owns and operates more than 40 leading international franchise concepts in fashion and accessories, food and beverage, home furnishings, sporting goods, multimedia, and beauty and cosmetics across the Middle East and Africa. The group is spread across 13 countries overseeing more than 700 stores.

Job Purpose

The Senior Merchandise Planner is responsible for overseeing the distribution and delivery of products in assigned areas, ensuring compliance with the brand's standards.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the budget planning process for the specified region and submit sales forecasts/figures for upcoming ranges ahead of scheduled market dates.
• Plan product ranges and collaborate with merchandisers to conduct sales and stock analysis.
• Source new brands and product ranges, review existing ones, and ensure the brand/product portfolio remains relevant to customers and profitable. Secure exclusive brands to maintain a competitive advantage.
• Participate in analyzing the previous Open-to-Buy (OTB) performance and recommend necessary actions to enhance seasonal sales.
• Manage stock levels based on forecasted seasonal sales and product flow, oversee commercial calendar planning, and control stock availability. Assist in setting the brand's price strategy in accordance with comparative reports.
• Monitor product flow by identifying slow sellers and best sellers, ensuring proper allocation or relocation between stores for improved stock rotation.
• Compare seasonal price reports with competitors and provide feedback to the relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate with merchandisers to forecast product mix, evaluate floor density, and assess linear footage to optimize sales.
• Prepare a comprehensive analysis of post-seasonal performance, evaluating past results from concept and territory levels to department, class, subclass, and item specifics.
• Propose seasonal strategies for sales, pricing, suppliers, brands, sizes, colors, and assortment dimensions (where relevant) at concept and territory levels down to class and subclass specifics. Collaborate closely with buyers, integrating insights from past performance and future trends.
• Prepare store grading at the class and subclass levels to assess range breadth and depth for large, medium, and small stores, including order quantities where applicable.
• Collaborate with merchandisers or the retail planning team to provide recommendations for seasonal in-store promotions and markdowns.

Qualifications

Language & Technical Skills

• Fluency in English.
• Fluency in French is a plus.
• Proficiency in MS Office.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, or a related field.

Experience

• Four to six years of experience in fashion retail, or a similar role.
• Experience in purchasing is a plus.

Behavioral Competencies

Business Insight

Applies knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization's goals. For example, clearly understands how own activities relate to critical business drivers. Monitors business news and market changes for impact on the business or on own expertise area; uses this to shape decisions.

Manages Complexity

Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. For example, looks at complex issues from multiple angles; explores issues to uncover underlying issues and root causes; sees the main consequences and implications of different options.

Optimizes Work Processes

Knows the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement. For example, uses metrics and benchmarks to monitor accuracy and quality. Takes steps to make methods productive and efficient. Promptly and effectively addresses process breakdowns.

Communicates Effectively

Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. For example, listens attentively and takes an interest. Keeps others well informed; conveys information clearly, concisely, and professionally when speaking or writing.

Self-Development

Actively seeks new ways to grow and be challenged using both formal and informal development channels. For example, demonstrates strong commitment to own development by continuously updating knowledge, skills, and abilities. Shows strong enthusiasm for seeking learning opportunities.

Azadea Group is an equal employment employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by relevant local laws.

About the Company

Azadea Group is a premier fashion and lifestyle retail company that owns and operates more than 50 leading international franchise concepts across the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and Europe. Since its inception in 1978, the Group has grown a substantial chain of stores representing leading international brand names in fashion and accessories, food and beverage, home furnishing, sporting goods and multimedia.With over 11,000 employees, the company boasts a solid infrastructure overseeing more than 600 stores spread across 15 countries including Algeria, Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Ghana, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and United Arab Emirates.