Planner - Merchandise Planning

Majid Al Futtaim; Dubai; On-site; AED 156,240 - 223,200; Full time

Job summary

Majid Al Futtaim is seeking a Planner for Merchandise Planning based in Dubai. This role will involve managing sales analysis, inventory control, and stock optimization to support retail profitability.

The successful candidate will collaborate with multiple teams to ensure the right products are available in the right quantities. Candidates should have 2-4 years of experience in a retail planning role and a graduate degree in a relevant field.

The position offers opportunities to significantly impact sales and margin performance.

Qualifications

• 2-4 years of experience in a Planner or merchandise planning role.
• Previous retail experience is mandatory.
• Strong understanding of sales trends and stock management.

Responsibilities

• Support senior planners in analyzing sales trends and product performance.
• Ensure right products and stock quantities are available.
• Monitor product performance and stock risks.

Skills

Merchandise planning

Retail planning

Inventory management

Stock allocation

Replenishment planning

Sell-through analysis

Sales trend analysis

Gross margin analysis

WSSI reporting

Markdown planning

Retail data analysis

Excel reporting

Education

Graduate degree in business, finance, retail management, merchandising, or a related field

Job description

Planner – Merchandise Planning

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Industry: Retail – Merchandising

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: 14,000-20,000 monthly (Market estimated)

Overview

Planner – Merchandise Planning in Dubai focuses on sales analysis, inventory control, replenishment, allocation, markdown planning, and stock optimization for Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle.

The role supports senior planning leaders by ensuring the right products are available in the right quantities, at the right locations, and at the right time to maximize sales, margin performance, and retail profitability.

Role Context

The Planner will work closely with buying, store operations, logistics, warehouse, and merchandising teams to monitor product performance and maintain optimum stock levels across the retail network. This role requires strong commercial awareness, analytical ability, and retail planning discipline to support weekly sales reviews, stock movement decisions, seasonal clearance planning, and in‑season trading actions that align with business targets.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Senior Planner and Planning Manager in analyzing sales trends, gross margin, inventory movement, stock availability, and product performance across the retail business.
• Ensure the right products and stock quantities are available in the right stores at the right time to support sales growth and customer demand.
• Monitor line‑level and product category performance, identifying stock risks, sales opportunities, and actions required to improve sell‑through.
• Manage allocation, replenishment, store transfers, and stock balancing activities in line with agreed range and allocation plans.
• Review stock holding levels and recommend actions to reduce overstock, prevent stock shortages, and improve inventory efficiency.
• Plan collection clearance, end‑of‑season markdowns, and promotional stock movement to achieve sell‑through targets while protecting business margin.
• Prepare weekly sales, stock, and intake summary reports to track performance against plan and support commercial decision‑making.
• Create hindsight reports highlighting trading performance, intake flow, markdown impact, margin results, and future in‑season risks.
• Communicate potential risks to profit, stock, intake, and sales targets to senior management with clear analysis and recommended actions.
• Track customer profiles, retail trends, buying behavior, and product preferences to support sound product and stock planning decisions.
• Collaborate with buying teams to understand range strategy, product mix, seasonal requirements, and category performance expectations.
• Work with store teams to review sales performance, stock movement, customer demand, and replenishment priorities.
• Monitor warehouse service levels and coordinate with logistics teams to track shipments, stock transfers, and timely delivery of products.
• Maintain strong working relationships across planning, buying, stores, warehouse, logistics, and finance teams to ensure smooth information flow and follow‑up actions.

Ideal Profile

• Graduate degree in business, finance, retail management, merchandising, or a related field.
• 2‑4 years of experience in a Planner, Merchandise Planner, Assistant Planner, or similar retail planning role.
• Previous experience in a retail environment is mandatory.
• Strong understanding of sales trends, stock management, replenishment, allocation, sell‑through, markdowns, gross margin, and inventory control.
• Experience preparing WSSI reports, hindsight analysis, stock summaries, and trading performance updates.
• Ability to analyze large volumes of sales and inventory data and convert findings into practical trading actions.
• Good commercial judgement with the ability to balance sales growth, margin protection, and stock efficiency.
• Strong coordination skills with the ability to work across buying, stores, logistics, warehouse, and planning teams.
• Excellent to fluent English communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail, planning discipline, and ability to manage deadlines in a fast‑paced retail environment.

Key Skills

• Merchandise planning
• Retail planning
• Inventory management
• Stock allocation
• Replenishment planning
• Store transfers
• Sell‑through analysis
• Sales trend analysis
• Gross margin analysis
• WSSI reporting
• Stock and intake planning
• Markdown planning
• End‑of‑season clearance
• Product category performance
• Range planning support
• Retail profitability
• Warehouse coordination
• Logistics coordination
• Retail data analysis
• Commercial reporting
• Stakeholder coordination
• Excel reporting
• English communication

Why Join Us

This opportunity is ideal for a retail Planner who wants to build a strong career in merchandise planning, stock control, allocation, and trading analysis within Dubai's active retail sector. The role offers exposure to regional retail operations, lifestyle brands, category performance management, and cross‑functional planning decisions that directly influence sales, margin, and customer experience.

About the Company

Majid Al Futtaim is a leading regional business group with a strong presence across retail, lifestyle, shopping malls, leisure, entertainment, and hospitality. Through Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle, the company manages customer‑focused brands and retail concepts built around commercial excellence, innovation, strong governance, and high‑quality experiences for shoppers across Dubai, the UAE, and the wider region.