Senior Merchandise Planner - Apparel
Core
Senior Merchandise Planner driving assortment strategy, profitability, and scalable growth for an Australian apparel retailer.
Role type
Senior IC merchandise planner (apparel retail)
Builds
Seasonal and post-seasonal strategic plans, markdown strategies, and item plans for imported and local lines
Domain
Apparel retail
Deliverable
production ML models | product features | dashboards & analysis | client delivery | infrastructure | physical/clinical work
Required skills
Assortment strategy, financial budgeting, markdown strategy, margin mix management, stock turn optimization, inventory productivity, replenishment parameters, allocation principles, stock-to-sales optimization, weeks cover management, GMROI optimization, return on space optimization, item plan management, flow from DC to store optimization
Preferred skills
Strategic thinking, commercial insight, cross-functional influence, autonomous decision-making, proactive problem-solving
Technologies
None stated
Responsibilities
Partner with Buyers and stakeholders to drive category performance and long-term strategy; Build and manage financial budgets aligned to business objectives; Develop seasonal, post-seasonal, and half-year strategic plans; Own markdown strategy to maximize GMROI and minimize clearance risk; Actively manage margin mix, stock turn, assortment balance, and inventory productivity; Lead weekly category performance reviews with Buying; Drive assortment planning and range optimization; Set replenishment parameters to ensure healthy core stock levels; Present monthly performance insights to senior leadership; Manage allocation principles to optimize stock-to-sales, weeks cover, GMROI, and return on space; Establish and manage item plans across imported and local ongoing lines, optimizing flow from DC to store
Seniority
Senior, hands-on IC