Director Commercial Planning EMC

Adidas Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sportswear company in Dubai is seeking an experienced professional to drive commercial planning and inventory optimization. The ideal candidate will have 10-12 years of merchandising experience, with strong leadership and analytical skills. Responsibilities include monitoring sales performance, managing revenue forecasts, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. A university degree in business or finance is required. The position offers competitive benefits and opportunities for growth in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 10-12 years of merchandising experience, with 5 years in a management role.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task.
• Experience in collaborative team environments.

Responsibilities

• Monitor daily and weekly sales performance for fast-selling products.
• Drive inventory clearance strategies to align with market trends.
• Implement pricing strategies for revenue and margin improvement.
• Manage revenue forecasts for retail, franchise, and e-commerce.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Time-management

Leadership

Analytical skills

Fluent in English

Proficiency in MS Office

Education

University degree in business/Finance/Merchandising

Tools

Retail Management Systems

Job description

Overview

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization: This role is critical to supporting the profitability of EMC DTC by focusing on commercial planning & forecasting, in-season trading, inventory management, and maximizing profit through agile, data-driven decision-making. The role will contribute to the execution of commercial strategies, leveraging smart and comprehensive views of marketplace trends and trading performance. The role emphasizes quick action to capitalize on opportunities, driving revenue and margin improvement across the EMC DTC business which includes retail, ecom and Franchise.

Key Responsibilities

• In-Season Trading: Monitor daily and weekly sales performance to identify opportunities for quick action on fast-selling products and mitigate risks on slow-moving inventory. Develop and execute in-season trading strategies to capture demand at optimal margins and outpace competitors in key categories. Lead markdown, promotion, and replenishment decisions to maximize sell-through and profitability.
• Marketplace Inventory Optimization: Drive inventory clearance strategies to maintain healthy stock levels across retail, e-commerce, and Franchise channels. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align inventory movement with consumer demand and market trends. Ensure alignment of stock allocations and replenishments with channel-specific performance goals.
• Demand Capture and Market Share Growth: Identify market opportunities and implement actions to capture unmet consumer demand, improving customer satisfaction and market share. Benchmark performance against competitors and leverage insights to refine trading strategies for competitive advantage.
• Margin and Revenue Maximization: Analyze trading and marketplace data to identify opportunities for revenue and margin improvement. Implement pricing strategies that drive profitability while maintaining competitiveness. Partner with finance and merchandising teams to ensure actions align with broader commercial objectives.
• Enhancing Systems and Processes: Identify areas for improvement in current ways of working, systems, and tools to streamline trading and inventory management processes. Collaborate with tech and operational teams to enhance data visibility, forecasting accuracy, and decision-making tools. Build scalable foundations for future growth by implementing best practices and innovative solutions.
• Commercial planning: Drive & manage the revenue forecasts for the full DTC channel (Retail, Franchise & eCom). Deliver financial targets including Net sales, Sell through, standard margin. Ensure yearly & monthly targets are achievable including focus on daily phasing forecasts. Work closely with operations & finance to ensure forecast accuracy. Commercial calendar planning inline with consumer & market trends.
• Performance Tracking and Reporting: Establish and monitor KPIs to track the effectiveness of trading and inventory actions. Provide actionable insights and regular updates to stakeholders to ensure alignment and transparency. Stay informed about evolving consumer behaviour and preferences to tailor trading actions accordingly. Leverage marketplace trends and customer feedback to refine strategies and improve the shopping experience. Contribute to the development of key planning reports and be responsible for its implementation and adoption in channels.
• Key Relationships: Buying, Operations, Brand, Finance, Supply Chain, Franchise sales, EM Hub Merchandising, Ecom.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• High degree of commercial and business acumen
• Strong time-management, planning and organizational skills
• Ability to multi-task in a dynamic environment and challenge the status quo
• Leadership and influencing skills
• Advanced user of MS Office suite of products
• Fluent in English
• Advanced knowledge of Retail Management Systems
• Strong analytical skills
• Structured, organised and process orientated
• Attention to detail as error in analysis will have crucial impact to business
• Ability to work effectively within a team environment and under pressure

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications

University degree in business/Finance/Merchandising. Merchandising Experience: 10-12 years. Management Experience: 5 years