Merchandise Planning Manager - Fashion Retail

Synopsis

An exciting opportunity has become available with a leading international fashion retail brand for an experienced Merchandise Planning Manager to join their Cape Town team.

We are looking for a commercially minded planning professional with extensive apparel retail experience who understands the full merchandise planning cycle and can successfully balance sales, inventory, margin and customer demand.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead merchandise planning and inventory management across the business.
2. Drive sales, stock, margin and inventory performance against agreed targets.
3. Develop accurate forecasts and merchandise plans to support seasonal and in-season trading.
4. Partner with Buying/Merchandise teams to develop commercially relevant assortments.
5. Manage stock levels, allocations and replenishment to maximise availability and store productivity.
6. Monitor inventory KPIs including stock turn, ageing inventory and closing stock.
7. Analyse weekly, monthly and seasonal performance and recommend corrective actions.
8. Identify opportunities and risks relating to sales, stock, promotions and markdowns.
9. Conduct hindsight analysis to improve future seasonal buys and forecasts.
10. Work closely with Finance, Commercial, Retail and other cross-functional stakeholders.
11. Lead, mentor and develop the planning team

Qualifications / Minimum Requirements

1. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification.
2. Must have min 4-5 years’ experience as a Merchandise Planning Manager
3. Minimum 8 years’ merchandise planning and inventory management experience.
4. Strong apparel/fashion retail planning experience is essential.
5. Demonstrated expertise in forecasting, merchandise planning and inventory management.
6. Proven experience leading and developing a team.
7. Strong commercial and analytical capability.
8. Experience working across multiple functions within a fast-paced retail environment.

Key Competencies

1. Strong commercial acumen and analytical thinking.
2. Excellent planning and organisational ability.
3. Confident communicator with strong influencing skills.
4. Assertive and comfortable challenging where necessary.
5. Strong decision-making and problem-solving ability.
6. Collaborative approach with the ability to work across multiple stakeholders.
7. Growth mindset and ability to adapt quickly.
8. Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities.

This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished fashion merchandise planning professional looking to join a well-established international brand and play an influential role in driving merchandise and inventory performance across the South African market.