Merchandise Planner - Retail Planning

GMG Gulf; Dubai; On-site; AED 133,920 - 200,880; Full time

Job summary

GMG is seeking a Merchandise Planner – Retail Planning in Dubai to translate sales, inventory and customer data into practical merchandise plans. You will forecast by brand and category, calculate open-to-buy needs, and coordinate with buying teams to keep stock aligned with seasonal strategy.

The role focuses on reducing stockouts, improving inventory productivity and supporting promotional and markdown activity across multiple brands and stores within GMG’s regional portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business Management or a related discipline.
• Minimum three years of relevant experience in merchandise planning, retail planning or inventory analysis.
• Strong knowledge of pre-season, in-season and post-season merchandise management.
• Practical understanding of open-to-buy planning and stock budgeting.
• Experience preparing sales forecasts by brand, category, store or season.

Responsibilities

• Prepare management information and analytical reports for assigned brands and categories.
• Analyse actual sales, forecasts, inventory levels, ordering parameters and replenishment requirements.
• Review historical sales performance and seasonal demand patterns.
• Maintain accurate information on stock budgets, current inventory and category performance.
• Prepare sales forecasts by brand, category, store and season.
• Calculate quarterly open-to-buy requirements for each assigned store.
• Support pre-season merchandise planning and seasonal inventory budgeting.
• Monitor category plans using store analytics, customer preferences and historical trends.
• Coordinate with buyers to execute approved merchandise and assortment plans.
• Support effective in-season stock management across stores and retail areas.

Skills

Merchandise planning

Retail planning

Open-to-buy planning

GMROII analysis

Sales forecasting

Inventory optimization

Stock budgeting

Seasonal planning

Pre-season planning

In-season management

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Business Management or related

Job description

Merchandise Planner – Retail Planning

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Retail
Function: Merchandise Planning and Buying
Experience: Minimum 3 years
Job Type: Full-time

Merchandise Planner – Retail Planning in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a Retail opportunity for an analytical professional experienced in sales forecasting, open-to-buy planning, inventory optimization and seasonal merchandise management. GMG is hiring a planner to support pre-season, in-season and post-season strategies that improve sales, gross profit value and inventory productivity across brands, categories and retail stores.

Job Details
Country: United Arab Emirates
City: Dubai
Gender: Any
Nationality: Any
Salary: 12,000–18,000 (estimated, confirmed with employer).

Role Context
The Merchandise Planner – Retail Planning will convert sales, inventory and customer data into practical merchandise plans that support profitable retail growth. The role will prepare brand and category forecasts, calculate open-to-buy requirements and coordinate with buying teams to maintain the right stock levels across stores and seasons. By monitoring sales performance, stock movement, gross margin return on inventory investment and category density, the planner will help reduce stock-outs, identify slow-moving products and improve inventory allocation. The position also supports promotional execution, markdown planning and management reporting across GMG’s retail portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare management information and analytical reports for assigned brands and categories.
• Analyse actual sales, forecasts, inventory levels, ordering parameters and replenishment requirements.
• Review historical sales performance and seasonal demand patterns.
• Maintain accurate information on stock budgets, current inventory and category performance.
• Prepare sales forecasts by brand, category, store and season.
• Calculate quarterly open-to-buy requirements for each assigned store.
• Support pre-season merchandise planning and seasonal inventory budgeting.
• Monitor category plans using store analytics, customer preferences and historical trends.
• Incorporate future product and market outlook provided by the Buying team.
• Coordinate with buyers to execute approved merchandise and assortment plans.
• Support effective in-season stock management across stores and retail areas.
• Review stock balancing requirements and recommend inventory transfers.
• Monitor stock-to-sales performance and identify allocation improvements.
• Assist with markdown planning and ensure approved price reductions are implemented.
• Identify obsolete, ageing and slow‑moving inventory.
• Obtain required management approvals for markdowns and product discounts.
• Ensure stock liquidation follows applicable retail and brand operating procedures.
• Monitor inventory availability and reduce the risk of avoidable stock‑outs.
• Prepare variance analysis comparing actual sales and stock against budget.
• Identify category and brand growth opportunities based on performance trends.
• Recommend corrective actions for declining sales or excess inventory.
• Set and monitor GMROII targets by brand and category.
• Track merchandise density measures to support stronger profitability.
• Review gross margin, inventory investment and stock productivity.
• Ensure promotional and sales plans are executed according to the trade calendar.
• Keep current with developments in retail merchandise planning.
• Recommend improvements to planning processes, reporting and forecasting methods.
• Complete additional analytical and planning assignments required by management.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business Management or a related discipline.
• Minimum three years of relevant experience in merchandise planning, retail planning or inventory analysis.
• Strong knowledge of pre-season, in-season and post-season merchandise management.
• Practical understanding of open-to-buy planning and stock budgeting.
• Experience preparing sales forecasts by brand, category, store or season.
• Ability to analyse sales history, inventory levels and customer demand.
• Understanding of GMROII and merchandise profitability measures.
• Experience with stock balancing, markdown management and inventory liquidation.
• Ability to identify slow-moving, obsolete and underperforming products.
• Strong numerical, analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Commercial understanding of retail sales, gross margin, and inventory productivity.
• Ability to prepare clear variance reports and management recommendations.
• Strong coordination skills for working with buying, retail and commercial teams.
• High attention to detail when handling planning data and forecasts.
• Ability to manage recurring deadlines and seasonal planning cycles.
• Proficiency in spreadsheet analysis and retail reporting tools.

Skills Set

• Merchandise planning
• Retail planning
• Open-to-buy planning
• GMROII analysis
• Sales forecasting
• Inventory optimization
• Stock budgeting
• Seasonal planning
• Pre-season planning
• In-season management
• Post-season analysis
• Category analytics
• Brand performance analysis
• Stock balancing
• Markdown management
• Stock-to-sales analysis
• Inventory allocation
• Replenishment planning
• Slow-moving stock analysis
• Obsolete inventory management
• Variance analysis
• Trade calendar execution
• Promotional planning
• Gross margin analysis
• Retail MIS reporting
• Store performance analytics

Why Join Us
This position offers the opportunity to influence merchandise decisions across a diversified retail portfolio of international and home-grown brands. The planner will work with sales, stock and customer data to improve product availability, inventory returns and seasonal trading performance. The role provides valuable exposure to buying collaboration, commercial forecasting and multi-store planning within a large regional organization. It is a strong opportunity for an analytical retail professional seeking greater responsibility in merchandise strategy, inventory productivity and category profitability.

About the Company
GMG is a global well‑being company that retails, distributes and manufactures international and home‑grown brands across sport, food, health and consumer sectors. Its investments include GMG Sports, GMG Food, GMG Health and GMG Consumer Goods, with operations across the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. Under the ownership and management of the Baker family, GMG has introduced more than 120 brands into its markets.