Assistant Planning Manager (Merchandising) | Retail

Tanqeeb; Dubai; On-site; AED 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Tanqeeb in Dubai seeks an experienced Business Planning professional to lead annual and seasonal plans by market and business unit, ensuring alignment with sales and margin targets.

You will develop forecasts, manage dashboards, and provide insight-driven recommendations across cross-functional teams, leveraging tools like Power BI and Tableau. A strong Excel backbone and stakeholder communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Retail, or related field.
• 3–5 years in merchandise/financial planning or retail analysis.
• Experience with planning systems: JDA, Power BI, Tableau, or SAP.

Responsibilities

• Develop annual and seasonal business plans by market and BU.
• Prepare weekly/monthly sales forecasts and financial projections.
• Create reports on sales, margin, stock, and KPIs.
• Support cross-functional planning and governance.
• Maintain planning data and dashboards.

Skills

Analytical skills

Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Multitasking

Reporting skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

JDA

Power BI

Tableau

SAP

Job description

Business Planning

• Responsible for Planning Annual Business Plan by Market and Business Unit.
• Deliver Weekly Warehouse Sales and Stock Intake (WSSI) for Clothing & Home, Food and Total Business.
• Execute Markdown Management ensuring alignment with business objectives.

Sales & Financial Planning

• Support the development of seasonal and annual sales plans by market, store, category, and channel (Retail, E-Commerce, Omnichannel).
• Assist in building weekly, monthly, and seasonal sales forecasts, incorporating past performance, trends, and business drivers.
• Prepare financial projections for Gross Profit, Gross Margin, Markdown, and Inventory.
• Track performance versus plan and highlight risks or opportunities.

Business Unit Sales Planning

• Support Planning Manager in Business Unit sales planning by season, incorporating new product strategies and potential sales gaps from the previous year.
• Monitor performance against plan, identifying risks, opportunities, and corrective actions to optimize seasonal results.

Markdown & Price Optimization

• Support markdown planning, price phasing, and promotional analysis.
• Track sell-through and aging stock to recommend timely markdown actions.
• Partner with Merchandising to ensure markdown strategy protects margin while achieving sell-through targets.

Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare weekly and monthly business performance reports including sales, margin, stock, and KPIs.
• Analyze product, category, and store performance to support strategic decisions.
• Identify business risks and provide insight-driven recommendations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Support Finance in validating forecasts and financial submissions.
• Work with Buying and Merchandising team on Weekly BU and Dept level planning.

System & Process Support

• Maintain accurate planning data and product hierarchies in reporting systems.
• Develop templates, dashboards, and presentations for planning reviews.

Desired Candidate Profile

Required Skills To Be Successful:

• Strong analytical and numerical skills, proficient in Excel and reporting tools.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively across functions.
• Advanced Excel & reporting skills.

What Qualifies You For The Role:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Retail Management, or related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in merchandise planning, financial planning, or retail analysis, preferably in fashion or multi-category retail.
• Experience with planning systems such as JDA, Power BI, Tableau, SAP, or similar.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced retail environment.