Merchandise Planner – Fashion

Supply Tech Nexus; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 268,000 - 379,000; Full time

Job summary

Chalhoub Group in Dubai is seeking a Merchandise Planner to optimize forecasting, OTB, and inventory across multi-channel fashion channels. You will collaborate with Buying, Finance, Retail, and E-commerce to align demand, supply, and financial goals.

The role demands strong analytical skills, 7+ years in fashion retail planning, and experience with planning tools. Hybrid working arrangement offered with competitive salary and benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, or related field.
• 7 years of experience in merchandise and supply planning, preferably in retail or fashion.
• Hands-on expertise with planning tools.
• Proven ability to manage both seasonal and permanent product planning cycles.
• Strong analytical skills with knowledge of OTB calculations, inventory management, and markdown planning.
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills across Buying, Finance, and Order Management.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain demand forecasts, OTB plans, and inventory plans with Buying, Finance, Retail, and E-commerce teams.
• Develop stock and supply plans at brand level broken down by channel and validate orders with Order Management.
• Challenge Buyer forecasts for new items using historical data and comparable item performance.
• Maintain rolling forecasts for permanent products with promotions and sell-out data.
• Build capacity plans considering supply chain, logistics, and vendor constraints.
• Manage markdown and liquidation plans to optimize turnover and protect margins.
• Oversee store allocation and replenishment parameters with allocators.
• Prepare data for S&OP, monitor KPIs (sell-through, stock levels, OTIF), and review prior seasons.

Skills

Forecasting

OTB calculations

Inventory management

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Planning tools

Job description

The Context

Chalhoub Group, the Middle East's leading luxury retail conglomerate with 950+ stores, 16,000+ employees across 8 countries, and a portfolio spanning 400+ international brands, is looking for a Merchandise Planner to join its Fashion division in Dubai. The role sits at the core of commercial performance — optimizing sales, margin, and inventory through accurate forecasting, OTB management, and cross-channel supply planning.

Dubai, UAE

• Full-time Hybrid

What The Role Covers

Merchandise & OTB Planning

You create and maintain demand forecasts, Open-to-Buy (OTB) plans, and inventory plans (MSSI) in close collaboration with Buying, Finance, Retail, and E-commerce teams. You develop stock and supply plans at brand level broken down by channel, and validate order requests in sync with the Order Management team for timely execution.

Demand Forecasting

For seasonal and novelty products, you challenge Buyer demand forecasts on new items using historical data and comparable product performance. For permanent and baseline products, you maintain rolling demand forecasts incorporating historical data, promotions, sell-out forecasts from key accounts, and network evolution.

Operational Planning & Inventory Management

You build capacity plans accounting for supply chain, logistics, and vendor constraints. You manage markdown and liquidation plans to optimize inventory turnover and reduce obsolescence while protecting margin, and identify and address aging stock through structured liquidation strategies. You oversee store allocation and replenishment parameters in collaboration with allocators.

S&OP & Performance Monitoring

You prepare and input data for internal S&OP processes, ensuring alignment across demand, supply, and financial objectives. You monitor key KPIs including Full Price Sell-Through, stock levels, ISA, DOI, OTIF, and fill rates, and conduct post-mortem analyses of previous seasons to drive continuous planning improvement.

Candidate Profile

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, or related field
• 7 years of experience in merchandise and supply planning, preferably in retail or fashion
• Hands-on expertise with planning tools
• Proven ability to manage both seasonal and permanent product planning cycles
• Strong analytical skills with knowledge of OTB calculations, inventory management, and markdown planning
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills across Buying, Finance, and Order Management

Why This Role Stands Out

Chalhoub Group is the most sophisticated luxury retail planning environment in the GCC, managing a multi-brand, multi-channel, multi-country portfolio at significant scale. A Merchandise Planner role here — with OTB ownership, S&OP involvement, and markdown management accountability — is genuinely senior and well-rounded. The hybrid working model adds meaningful flexibility. For planning professionals with a fashion or luxury retail background looking to operate at the highest level of the GCC retail market, Chalhoub is the benchmark employer in this space.

Salary Benchmark - UAE Market (2024/2025)

For a Merchandise Planner with 7 years of fashion retail planning experience, based in Dubai:

• Base salary: AED 24,000 - 34,000/month

Chalhoub Group packages also include health care, child education contribution, and exclusive employee discounts — meaningful additions for the region's family-oriented workforce.