Merchandise Planner - Fashion

Role Overview

Merchandise Planner - Fashion at Chalhoub Group. The role optimizes sales, margin, and inventory by building accurate forecasts, managing Open to Buy (OTB), and translating commercial strategy into balanced stock and supply plans across channels.

Company Overview

Chalhoub Group is a hybrid luxury retailer operating across the Middle East for over seven decades, curating a portfolio of over 10 owned brands and representing over 400 international names across luxury fashion, beauty, jewellery, watches, eyewear, and art de vivre categories. The Group operates seamless omnichannel experiences across more than 950 stores, online platforms, and mobile apps, and employs over 16,000 talented professionals across eight countries in the Middle East, with a presence in LATAM. The Group has earned Great Place to Work® certification in several markets and is committed to sustainability, membership in the United Nations Global Compact, signatory of the Women's Empowerment Principles, and has pledged to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Role Purpose

The Merchandise Planner ensures the right product is in the right place at the right time through close collaboration with cross-functional teams, disciplined execution, and continuous performance analysis to drive sell-through and minimize risk.

Key Responsibilities

Merchandise Planning

• Create and maintain demand forecasts, Open to Buy (OTB), and inventory plans (MSSI) by collaborating with Buying, Finance, Retail, and Ecommerce teams.
• Develop stock and supply plans at the brand level, broken down by channel and brand, based on sales and buying budgets.
• Oversee store allocation and replenishment parameters, with execution performed by allocators for fashion.
• Prepare and input data for internal Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) processes, ensuring alignment across demand, supply, and financial objectives.

Demand Forecasting

• Challenge Buyers and Commercial demand forecasts on new products using historical data and sales performance of comparable items for seasonal and novelties.
• Input rolling demand forecasts for permanent and baseline products, incorporating historical data, promotions, sell-out forecasts from key accounts, and network evolution.

Operational Planning

• Build capacity plans that account for supply chain, logistics, and vendor constraints.
• Manage markdown and liquidation plans to optimize inventory turnover and reduce obsolescence while protecting margin.
• Collaborate with vendors to maintain healthy relationships and ensure alignment on supply requirements.
• Identify and address ageing stock, executing liquidation strategies to improve inventory health.
• Validate order requests and synchronize with the Order Management team to ensure timely and accurate execution.
• Utilize sales data, market conditions, and supplier inputs to inform merchandise strategies and support profitable decision-making.

Performance Monitoring and Insights

• Monitor key planning KPIs, such as Full Price Sell-Through, stock levels, Inventory Service Availability (ISA), Days of Inventory (DOI), On-Time In-Full (OTIF), and fill rates.
• Conduct post-mortem analyses of previous seasons to identify insights and best practices to inform future planning cycles.

Qualifications & Experience

• Seven years of experience in merchandise and supply planning, preferably in retail or fashion industries.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Hands-on expertise with planning tools.
• Proven ability to manage seasonal and permanent product planning cycles effectively.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail to ensure data accuracy and actionable insights.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills to work with cross-functional teams, including Buying and Order Management.
• Knowledge of inventory management principles, Open to Buy (OTB) calculations, and markdown planning.

Additional Information

Chalhoub Group offers a competitive benefits package including health care, child education contribution, remote and flexible working policies, and exclusive employee discounts. The role provides enriching experiences, learning and development opportunities, and exposure to different assignments within the role or through internal mobility. The Group is committed to equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to gender, age, race, religion, national origin, or disability status.