Merchandise Planner

Role Overview

The Merchandise Planner is responsible for driving optimal inventory availability across a broad assortment of categories that cater to the parenting turn their role is expected to drive and contribute towards revenue growth margin performance and working capital efficiency. The role combines demand forecasting inventory optimization and commercial decision-making in a high-SKU fast-paced e-commerce environment that supports both retail and marketplace operations.

This position partners closely with Commercial Category Operations Finance and Marketing teams to ensure inventory decisions are data-driven scalable and aligned with business growth targets.

Key Responsibilities

1. Inventory Planning & Commercial Alignment

• Own inventory planning at SKU and category level to support sales margin and growth targets.

• Translate category strategies promotions and seasonal plans into inventory investment decisions.

• Prioritize stock allocation toward high-velocity and high-margin SKUs to maximize ROI.

• Balance product availability with working capital and inventory turns.

2. Demand Forecasting & Analysis

• Develop and maintain demand forecasts using historical sales seasonality and trend analysis.

• Factor in marketing campaigns events launches and promotional activity into forecasts.

• Partner with Commercial Operations (Planning & Performance) and Category teams to continuously refine forecast assumptions.

• Identify demand risks and opportunities early and recommend corrective actions.

3. Inventory Optimization & Performance Management

• Monitor and manage key inventory metrics including sell-through weeks of cover stockouts excess and aging inventory.

• Recommend markdowns liquidation reallocation or replenishment strategies based on performance signals.

• Support SKU rationalization and new assortment introductions using demand and profitability insights.

• Drive reduction of excess and obsolete inventory.

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Supply Chain and Operations teams to align inventory plans with inbound capacity and lead times.

• Partner with Finance to align inventory investments with budget cash flow and margin targets.

• Support launches peak events and seasonal spikes with data-backed inventory scenarios.

• Provide inputs to pricing and promotion planning to maximize sell-through and returns.

5. Reporting Insights & Continuous Improvement

• Build and maintain inventory dashboards and reports highlighting health risks and opportunities.

• Conduct post-event and post-season performance reviews to improve planning accuracy.

• Translate data into clear actionable recommendations for senior stakeholders.

• Continuously improve planning processes tools and forecasting accuracy.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelors degree in Business Commerce Supply Chain Engineering or a related field.

Experience

• 25 years of experience in inventory planning demand planning commercial planning or category planning.

• Experience in e-commerce large-scale retail or high-SKU environments preferred.

• Exposure to fast-moving categories such as apparel FMCG lifestyle or general merchandise is a plus.
  Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a commercial mindset.

• Advanced Excel skills; ability to work comfortably with large datasets.

• Experience working with ERP planning tools or retail/e-commerce platforms.

• Solid understanding of inventory economics margin impact and working capital.

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

• Ability to operate in a fast-paced ambiguous and high-growth environment.

Preferred Attributes

• Highly data-driven with strong business judgment.

• Comfortable making trade-off decisions between growth margin and cash.

• Proactive structured and execution-oriented.

• Thrives in scale-driven metrics-led operating environments.