Buyer or Merchandise Planning Manager

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead category planning, assortment planning, buying, inventory planning, and allocation activities.
• Develop merchandise strategies aligned with sales, margin, inventory productivity, and business objectives.
• Manage seasonal calendars, planning timelines, and key deliverables.
• Evaluate product performance and determine buying requirements, replenishment priorities, and inventory investments.
• Recommend actions to improve category sales, profitability, and inventory efficiency.
• Ensure merchandise plans and buying decisions support seasonal and business strategies.

• Oversee preparation and analysis of sales dashboards, category reports, sell-through, MTS, and inventory reports.
• Analyze sales trends, inventory movement, risks, and category opportunities.
• Identify stock issues and implement corrective actions to improve productivity.
• Monitor sell-through, stock cover, turnover, and inventory efficiency across channels.
• Recommend actions to maximize sales while maintaining optimal inventory levels.

• Lead forecasting, demand planning, allocation, and replenishment processes.
• Ensure inventory availability aligns with demand and business requirements.
• Manage allocation and distribution across channels based on sales performance and priorities.
• Monitor allocation accuracy and inventory balancing activities.
• Coordinate replenishment and inventory movement with Warehouse and Store Operations.

• Develop and execute markdown strategies to optimize inventory and manage aging stock.
• Analyze inventory aging and sell-through to identify markdown opportunities.
• Monitor effectiveness of markdowns, promotions, and inventory optimization initiatives.
• Lead inventory productivity actions including transfers, consolidation, pullouts, and clearance activities.
• Ensure timely execution of inventory actions to support business objectives.

• Ensure timely and accurate completion of merchandise reports, forecasts, and planning tools.
• Maintain data accuracy, integrity, and reporting discipline.
• Prepare and present performance reviews, inventory updates, and business recommendations.
• Use insights and analytics to support strategic decision-making.

• Lead, coach, and develop the Category Analyst, Merchandising Assistant, and planning team.
• Monitor performance, deliverables, and execution timelines.
• Ensure accuracy and timely completion of all merchandising outputs.
• Drive process improvements and operational efficiency.
• Promote collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Partner with Ecommerce, Warehouse, Production, Creatives, Marketing, and Store Operations.
• Support seasonal launches, promotions, and inventory initiatives.
• Ensure alignment of merchandise planning with execution across teams.
• Contribute to strategic planning and business initiatives.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Retail Management, Industrial Engineering, Statistics, or related field.
• At least 5–8 years of experience in merchandise planning, buying, merchandising, inventory management, retail operations, or related functions.
• Minimum of 2–3 years managerial or team leadership experience.
• Experience in retail, apparel, fashion, or FMCG industry is preferred.
• Strong background in merchandise planning, inventory control, forecasting, category management, and business analysis.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong background in Merchandise Planning, Buying, Retail Merchandising, Inventory Management, or related business functions.
• Strong analytical, forecasting, and inventory management skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, reporting, and merchandise analysis.
• Knowledge of merchandise planning, buying, allocation, forecasting, replenishment, and retail reporting.
• Ability to analyze sales, inventory productivity, category performance, and business trends.
• Strong organizational, planning, and project management skills.
• Effective leadership and cross-functional communication abilities.
• Strong commercial and business decision-making capability.
• Highly detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced retail environment.