Job Description
Role Overview
Are you a commercially minded and data-driven planner with a passion for retail? Pro Direct are a fast-growing eCommerce retailer looking for a dynamic Merchandise Planning Manager to join their team and play a pivotal role in shaping our product strategy and inventory performance.
As Merchandise Planning Manager, you'll be responsible for leading the planning process and financial performance across all product categories. Working closely with the Buying teams, Marketing and Operations, you will forecast sales, plan inventory, and drive strategies that maximise opportunity, sales, margin, and stock efficiency.
The role is based at our HQ in Newton Abbot, Devon, but there will be an option to work one day a week from home.
Responsibilities of a Merchandise Planning Manager:
We are an ambitious online retailer with exciting growth plans, a loyal customer base and a strong brand presence in our niche. As we continue to scale and invest in a physical Stores programme, we're investing in our planning function to ensure we deliver the right products to our customers at the right time, while maintaining healthy stock levels and optimising margin profitability. Duties will include:
* Responding to top-down planning objectives to drive alignment on financial objectives across the business and aligning retail channels, departments and product categories to a Retail Plan.
* Setting financial targets in the context of historical sales, profitability data, inventory optimisation, overarching trends, patterns, seasonal fluctuations, competitive landscape and all external factors that impact costs, pricing strategy, sales and profitability.
* Ensuring reconciliation and achievement of financial goals within the Retail Plan and Merchandise Plans, including revenue by channel, sell-through, margin, and target inventory.
* Providing overall control of the budgets and forecasts for each department and category to ensure achievement of the Retail Plan.
Skills of a Merchandise Planning Manager:
* Ability to identify opportunities, develop innovative solutions, and effectively communicate back to stakeholders
* Strong analytical and numerical skills for forecasting and budgeting
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for collaborating with various teams
* Attention to detail and the ability to multitask for managing multiple projects simultaneously
* Knowledge of retail industry trends and consumer behaviour
* Creative problem-solving skills for developing effective merchandising strategies
* Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
* Understanding of merchandising principles and techniques
Benefits of a Merchandise Planning Manager:
* 33 days of annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays).
* 5 days paid sick leave.
* 7% Total Salary Employer Pension Contribution.
* Staff discount of up to 30% (Pro:Direct) and 40% (Do Clothing)
* Seasonal shutdown over the Christmas period with a gifted day of leave.
* Discounted Gym Membership through Premier Gym, Newton Abbot.
* National Gym discounts are available through Hussle and Nuffield Health.
* Access to our Healthcare Scheme through AXA Health.
* Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) through AXA Health for staff & family members
* Annual Pay Reviews and Appraisals.
* ‘Refer a friend’ policy, with bonus rewards for successful referrals.
* Free Annual Flu Jabs.
* Enhanced Sick Pay Scheme for staff with over 5 years length-of-service.
* Casual work attire.
What we look for in our team:
* To add cultural and professional value to the team
* Be 100% yourself - we are genuine and love what we do
* Passion … without it, we would not be where we are today
* A true team player - we work hard and play hard together
* We don’t have time for lone wolves - we build everything together
* A true desire to deliver outstanding customer-focused solutions
A little bit about us:
Team ProDirect is built on a passion for sport, product, and service. Our team has worked relentlessly over the past 30 years to ensure we connect athletes worldwide with the best choice of products. We make it our mission to engage with and awaken the passion within our customers; we strive to produce the best possible experience and want them to love sport and sport products as much as we do. We are a hard-hitting and lively band of professionals, dedicated to changing the world of online sports retail.