Sr. Demand Planning Manager

Boundless; United Arab Emirates; On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Demand Planning Manager to lead merchandise and demand planning for high-volume fashion retail operations. This pivotal role will shape financial planning, forecasting, and inventory management strategies across diverse product categories, emphasizing private label development. The ideal candidate will possess a strong analytical mindset and hands-on experience with substantial business portfolios. Join a dynamic team where your insights will drive commercial success and operational excellence in a fast-paced retail environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in fashion retail with a focus on private label brands.
• Hands-on planning experience for a business portfolio exceeding USD 200 million.

Responsibilities

• Develop annual merchandise strategies aligned with business goals.
• Generate accurate demand forecasts for key product categories.

Skills

Demand Planning

Inventory Management

Sales Forecasting

Analytical Skills

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business or related field

Master's Degree (preferred)

Tools

Oracle

SAP

JDA

Advanced Excel

Job description

Job Purpose

The Senior Demand Planning Manager will lead merchandise and demand planning efforts for high-volume fashion retail operations. This role is instrumental in shaping financial planning, forecasting, and inventory management strategies across multiple product categories, with a strong focus on private label development and performance optimization.

Key Requirements

• Proven experience in fashion retail, including strong exposure to private label brands
• Hands-on planning experience for a business portfolio exceeding USD 200 million
• Strong command of merchandise planning tools, retail analytics, and sales forecasting
• Ability to translate data into actionable insights to drive commercial and operational impact

Key Responsibilities

Merchandise & Financial Planning

• Partner with the Planning Head to develop annual merchandise strategies aligned with business goals and commercial targets
• Build and maintain detailed merchandise financial plans in coordination with Buyers to support sales, profit, and inventory objectives
• Lead pre-season planning and in-season adjustments, including open-to-buy management, margin planning, and replenishment strategy
• Develop store-level and category-level forecasts based on historic trends, customer behavior, promotional calendars, and product lifecycle

Sales Forecasting & Inventory Management

• Generate accurate demand forecasts for key product categories across multiple locations
• Monitor sell-through, stock cover, and markdown performance to inform timely decision-making
• Optimize inventory allocation and replenishment to ensure availability while minimizing overstock and obsolescence
• Support seasonal launch planning and new store rollouts through aligned financial and merchandise forecasting

Analytics & Business Reporting

• Oversee regular planning reports and dashboards, translating data into strategic insights and recommendations
• Analyze assortment performance and optimize planning based on style, pricing architecture, vendor contribution, and geographic demand
• Review and adjust merchandise plans regularly to maximize revenue, protect margin, and align with changing business conditions

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Buying, Retail Operations, Finance, and Logistics to ensure planning processes are aligned with execution on the ground
• Serve as the planning expert in cross-functional business reviews, using analytics to drive decision-making and performance reviews
• Ensure standard operating procedures and planning governance practices are followed consistently across all teams and processes

Preferred Skills & Competencies

• Advanced Excel and experience with planning tools such as Oracle, SAP, JDA, or similar
• Strong analytical mindset with a focus on retail KPIs and inventory productivity
• Collaborative leadership style and strong communication skills
• Experience in managing or mentoring junior planners is a plus