Senior Forecasting & Planning Manager

Function and Job Scope

• Lead China FBP forecasting and merchandise planning process, ensuring forecast accuracy, planning discipline and timely business response.
• Translate sales trends, campaign plans, channel dynamics and stock status into actionable forecast recommendations to support business adjustment.
• Optimize forecasting process and governance to ensure alignment with commercial calendar, product launches and supply planning timelines.
• Provide merchandise-related analysis and forecast rationale to support business decisions, while avoiding overlap with broader strategic business planning owned by other functions.
• Drive omni-channel forecast accuracy across offline retail, online channels and Travel Retail.
• Work closely with Marketing, Retail, Finance, Supply Chain, Regional and Global teams to validate China FBP forecast assumptions and business needs.
• Identify risks and opportunities in demand, stock and launch performance, and proactively recommend adjustments to support sustainable business delivery.
• Manage and lead a team of 3 forecasting specialists to be the solid backbone of business deliveries.

What you can bring to the team

Key Responsibilities:

Forecasting and Merchandise Planning

• Lead demand forecasting and merchandise planning based on sales performance, product lifecycle, launch calendar, channel trends and stock availability.
• Provide forecast rationale and merchandise insights to support product marketing, retail activation and campaign planning.
• Monitor forecast accuracy and identify key variances, risks and opportunities to enable timely business adjustment.
• Fine-tune monthly omni-channel forecast, covering offline retail, online channels including Tmall and .COM, and Travel Retail.
• Maintain regular communication with Regional and Global forecasting teams to validate China FBP forecast assumptions and demand signals.
• Provide forecast intelligence to support budget assumptions, launch volume planning and supply allocation discussions.
• Calibrate with Marketing and Retail teams on SPM/Testers forecast and supply needs for new openings, campaigns and podium activations.

SPM

• Working with Marketing & VM on campaign and regular SPMs
• Input SPM into forecasting system and monitor on status to ensure campaign launch on time
• Working closely with marketing operation team for SPM stock management FBP Counter Assistant

Inventory

• Validation of PO for all products
• Review of PO to send by air/sea
• Regular review of inventory on hand and goods in transit
• Preparing products for quarterly allowance
• Preparing for staff sales
• Working with Finance on L&O & write off list

Insights generation and stakeholder management

• Convert campaign performance, retail feedback and market signals into practical recommendations for forecast and stock adjustment.
• Support cross-functional business reviews with clear forecast assumptions, risks and action proposals.
• Provide data-driven input for upstream communication with Regional and Global teams on China demand and supply needs.
• Drive special forecast and merchandise projects with relevant teams to fulfill business requirements.
• Being the key contact window for forecasting and planning related topics and able to drive division priorities.

Person Specifications:

Academic / Professional Qualifications

• University Degree or above Work Experience
• At least 10 years’ relevant experience in demand forecasting, merchandise planning, supply planning or commercial planning in Luxury/Beauty or FMCG industry, with 5+ years’ managerial experience in a multinational environment
• Familiar with the business operation procedures of cosmetics industry and/or retail industry with strong data analysis and implementation skills
• Sensitivity on the luxury branding and retail operational need detecting Required Competencies
• Strong business acumen with the ability to understand commercial priorities, retail dynamics, product lifecycle, launch calendar and supply constraints.
• Solid forecasting, merchandise planning and analytical capability, with the ability to translate data, sales trends, stock status and market signals into clear business implications.
• Strong numerical sensitivity and modelling capability, with attention to forecast accuracy, assumptions, risks and opportunities.
• Ability to generate actionable insights and practical recommendations to support product allocation, replenishment, launch follow-up and timely business adjustment.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build trust and engage others around shared business priorities.
• Detail-oriented, organized and rigorous, with high ownership for data quality, process accuracy and planning governance.
• Agile and resilient in a changing business environment, with the ability to identify issues early, adapt plans and propose solutions proactively. FBP Counter Assistant
• Strong people leadership and team management capability, with the ability to coach, develop and engage team members while driving accountability and high-quality delivery.
• Commitment to high standards of ethics, compliance and data confidentiality.

Key Interactions:

Internal

• Retail team, Marketing, SDVM, Finance, Supply Chain
• Regional and Global planning & forecasting team