Assistant Planning Manager - Retail Planning

AlFuttaim; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,880 - 312,480; Full time

Job summary

AlFuttaim is seeking an Assistant Planning Manager for Retail Planning in Dubai to develop accurate sales and inventory plans. You will support annual business planning, coordinate markdown strategies, and improve retail performance through enhanced forecast accuracy.

With 3–5 years of experience in retail analysis and a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, you will prepare financial projections and analyze category performance. This full-time role offers a competitive salary range of 18,000–28,000 AED per month.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in merchandise planning, financial planning, retail analysis or commercial planning.
• Experience in fashion, home, food or multi-category retail preferred.
• Strong knowledge of sales forecasting, inventory planning, markdown management, margin analysis and retail KPIs.
• Advanced Excel skills with strong reporting and numerical ability.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage planning deadlines.
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical and commercial judgment.

Responsibilities

• Support annual business planning by market, business unit, category, store, and channel.
• Deliver weekly WSSI reporting for Clothing, Home, and total business performance.
• Prepare and monitor sales, cash margin, markdown cost, closing stock and inventory plans.
• Assist in developing seasonal and annual sales plans for retail stores and e-commerce.
• Build weekly, monthly, and seasonal forecasts using sales history and market activity.
• Prepare financial projections covering gross profit, gross margin, and inventory.
• Track performance against plan and identify risks, opportunities, and corrective actions.
• Partner with merchandising teams to recommend markdown actions.

Skills

Merchandise planning

Retail sales forecasting

WSSI reporting

Inventory planning

Markdown management

Price optimisation

Gross margin analysis

Business performance reporting

Retail KPI tracking

Category performance analysis

Excel reporting

Power BI

Tableau

SAP

JDA planning systems

Financial projections

E-commerce planning

Omnichannel retail planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Retail Management or a related field

Tools

JDA

Power BI

Tableau

SAP

Job description

Assistant Planning Manager – Retail Planning

Location: Dubai, United Arab EmiratesIndustry: RetailFunction: Merchandise Planning and BuyingJob Type: Full‑timeExperience: 3–5 years

Overview

Assistant Planning Manager – Retail Planning is a full‑time opportunity that supports the planning function by developing accurate sales, margin, markdown, and inventory plans across business units, markets, categories, stores, and channels. The role contributes to stronger retail performance by improving forecast accuracy, monitoring stock movement, managing markdown decisions, and providing timely business insights that help teams make informed commercial decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Support annual business planning by market, business unit, category, store, and channel.
• Deliver weekly WSSI reporting for Clothing, Home, and total business performance.
• Prepare and monitor sales, cash margin, markdown cost, closing stock and inventory plans against approved business targets.
• Assist in developing seasonal and annual sales plans for retail stores, e‑commerce, and omnichannel operations.
• Build weekly, monthly, and seasonal forecasts using sales history, trading trends, stock position, market activity and business drivers.
• Prepare financial projections covering gross profit, gross margin, markdown, inventory and stock requirements.
• Track performance against plan and highlight risks, opportunities, sales gaps and corrective actions.
• Support business unit sales planning by season, including new product strategies, forward plans and growth initiatives.
• Assist with markdown planning, price phasing, promotional analysis, sell‑through tracking and aging stock reviews.
• Partner with merchandising teams to recommend markdown actions that improve sell‑through while protecting margin.
• Prepare weekly and monthly business performance reports covering sales, margin, stock, KPIs and category performance.
• Analyze product, category, store and channel performance to support strategic planning and commercial decisions.
• Work with finance to validate forecasts, financial submissions and business planning assumptions.
• Coordinate with buying and merchandising teams on department‑level planning and weekly business reviews.
• Maintain accurate planning data, product hierarchies, templates, dashboards and presentations for planning reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Retail Management or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in merchandise planning, financial planning, retail analysis or commercial planning.
• Experience in fashion, home, food or multi‑category retail is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of sales forecasting, inventory planning, markdown management, margin analysis and retail KPIs.
• Advanced Excel skills with strong reporting and numerical ability.
• Experience with planning and reporting systems such as JDA, Power BI, Tableau, SAP or similar tools.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage planning deadlines in a fast‑paced retail business.
• Detail‑oriented approach with strong analytical and commercial judgment.

Core Skills

• Merchandise planning
• Retail sales forecasting
• WSSI reporting
• Inventory planning
• Markdown management
• Price optimisation
• Gross margin analysis
• Business performance reporting
• Retail KPI tracking
• Category performance analysis
• Excel reporting
• Power BI
• Tableau
• SAP
• JDA planning systems
• Financial projections
• E‑commerce planning
• Omnichannel retail planning

Compensation

Estimated salary range: 18,000–28,000 AED per month (final offer to be confirmed by the employer).