Associate - Merchandise Planner

Chalhoub Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 240,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Chalhoub Group is seeking a Merchandise Planner to optimize sales, margin, and inventory through accurate forecasting and effective OTB management. You will translate commercial strategy into balanced stock plans across channels, collaborating closely with Buying, Finance, Retail, and Ecommerce teams.

The role requires 2-3 years in merchandise planning, with hands-on experience in planning tools such as Blue Yonder or SAP, and a strong analytical mindset.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of experience in merchandise and supply planning.
• Experience with planning tools and systems in retail or fashion.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management or related field.
• Excellent collaboration with Buying and Order Management teams.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain demand forecasts, OTB, and inventory plans across channels.
• Use sales data and market conditions to inform merchandise strategies.
• Develop stock and supply plans by brand and channel.
• Oversee allocation and replenishment parameters for fashion.
• Prepare data for S&OP processes to align demand, supply, and finance.
• Monitor KPIs like sell-through, inventory turnover, and fill rates.

Skills

Forecasting

Inventory planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain or related

Tools

Blue Yonder

SAP

Job description

INSPIRE | EXHILARATE | DELIGHT

For over seven decades, Chalhoub Group has been a partner and creator of luxury experiences in the Middle East. In its pursuit to excel as a hybrid luxury retailer, the Group has curated a portfolio of over 10 owned brands and strengthened its distribution and marketing expertise for over 400 international names across luxury fashion, beauty, jewellery, watches, eyewear, and art de vivre categories.

Every step at Chalhoub Group is taken to build a future where luxury dreams become reality — bridging cultures and crafting memorable experiences for our consumers. Be it by constantly reinventing itself, committing to innovation, or embracing new technologies, the Group is shaping the future of luxury retail. It delivers seamless omnichannel experiences across more than 950 stores, online platforms, and mobile apps. Driving this innovation journey is The Greenhouse — the Group’s innovation hub, incubator, and accelerator for startups and emerging businesses, regionally and globally.

Chalhoub Group fosters a people-at-heart culture rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a workplace catalysed by forward thinking and future-proofing. Today, it brings together over 16,000 talented professionals across eight countries in the Middle East, with a presence in LATAM.

Sustainability is at the core of the Group’s strategy, guided by a clear commitment to people, partners, and the planet. Chalhoub Group is proud to be a member of the United Nations Global Compact, a signatory of the Women’s Empowerment Principles, and to have pledged to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Role summary

The purpose of the Merchandise Planner role is to optimize sales, margin, and inventory by building accurate forecasts, managing OTB, and translating commercial strategy into balanced stock and supply plans across channels. It 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.

What you'll be doing

Merchandise Planning:

• Create & maintain demand forecast, OTB (Open to Buy) and inventory plans (MSSI) by collaborating with Buying, Finance, Retail, and Ecommerce teams.
• Utilize sales data, market conditions, and supplier inputs to help inform merchandise strategies and support profitable decision-making.
• 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 (excecution 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:

• Seasonal/Novelties: Challenge Buyers/Commercial demand forecasts on new products using historical data and sales performance of comparable items.
• Permanent/Baseline Product: Input rolling demand forecasts, 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.
• Fashion: Manage markdown and liquidation plans to optimize inventory turnover and reduce obsolescence while protecting the margin.
• Collaborate with vendors to maintain healthy relationships and ensure alignment on supply requirements.
• Identify and address ageing stock, excecuting liquidation strategies to improve inventory health.
• Validate order requests and synchronize with the Order Management team to ensure timely and accurate execution.

Performance Monitoring and Insights

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

Team Leadership and Development

• Manage Merchandise Planners and Allocators (for fashion), ensuring team alignment with organisational objectives.
• Mentor and develop team members, fostering a culture of collaboration and best practices in planning.

What you’ll need to succeed

• 2-3 years of experience in merchandise and supply planning, preferably in retail, fashion, or related industries.
• Hands-on expertise with planning tools, such as Blue Yonder, SAP, or similar advanced systems.
• Proven ability to manage seasonal and permanent product planning cycles effectively.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 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, OTB calculations, and markdown planning.

What we can offer you

With us,you will turn your aspirations into reality. We will help shape your journey through enriching experiences, learning and development opportunities and exposure to different assignments within your role or through internal mobility. Our Group offers diverse career paths for those who are extraordinary, every day.

We recognise the value that you bring, and we strive to provide a competitive benefits package which includes health care, child education contribution, remote and flexible working policies as well as exclusive employeediscounts.

Using GenAI in Your Application Process

To support a fair and consistent experience for all candidates, we ask that assessments and interviews are completed independently and without assistance from generative AI tools. This ensures we understand your strengths, your thinking, and how you approach real situations.

We Invite All Applicants to Apply

It Takes Diversity Of Thought, Culture, Background, Differing Abilities and Perspectives to truly Inspire, Exhilarate and Delight our customers. At Chalhoub Group, we are committed to inclusion and diversity.

We welcome all applicants to apply and be part of our exciting future. We ensure equal opportunity for all our applicants without regard to gender, age, race, religion, national origin or disability status.