Planner | Retail | Watsons UAE

Robinson & Co (Singapore) Pte Ltd; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in Dubai is seeking a Planner to manage Open-To-Buy (OTB), stock, sales, and margins. The role requires strategic planning, analytical skills, and SAP proficiency. Candidates should have a college degree and prior experience in retail, with strong communication and leadership abilities. This position offers a collaborative environment to maximize sales while minimizing inventory levels.

Qualifications

• Experience in retail and fashion preferred.
• Proficiency in strategic planning and analytical skills.
• Strong communication skills with leadership and influencing others.

Responsibilities

• Manage Open-To-Buy (OTB), stock, sales, and margin.
• Forecast weekly sales and margin by store.
• Oversee full OTB process and manage inventory effectively.
• Ensure SAP is maintained and effective from an inventory standpoint.
• Develop reliable reports for management decision-making.

Skills

Strategic planning

Analytical abilities

Microsoft Office proficiency

Knowledge of retail systems and SAP

Strong communication skills

Leadership skills

Education

College or University level graduate

Tools

SAP

Job description

Overview Of The Role:

The Planner role at Watsons is pivotal to managing Open-To-Buy (OTB), stock, sales, and margin at a detailed level. The purpose is to maximize sales and minimize inventory levels through strategic planning and forecasting. Success in this role involves accurate sales and margin forecasting, effective promotional and markdown management, and maintaining optimal inventory levels within multiple market segments. The Planner collaborates closely with various departments, including buying, financial planning, operations, and marketing, to ensure the product offerings align with market demands and promotional strategies. The role also includes maintaining SAP efficiency and delivering reliable reports for strategic decision‑making.

What You Will Do:

Top Line Performance and Profitability

• Set overall guidelines for margin by product area and ensure processes are established to analyze margin deviation.
• Forecast weekly sales and margin by store and region, highlighting risks and opportunities.
• Manage markdown and promotional strategies to ensure margin is maintained to achieve bottom line results.
• Drive the Business Planning process for the brand to meet budgeted sales and margin targets.
• Evaluate performance against sales and margin achieved versus BP and LE benchmarks.
• Ensure forecast accuracy within a +/- 10% range.

Stock Management and OTB

• Oversee full OTB process, sell through, and markdown policy to manage sales, inventory, and margin effectively.
• Provide accurate OTB plans for each category to maximize sell-through.
• Forecast intakes to provide an accurate picture of weekly stockholding by brand.
• Manage store clustering and distribution of stock to stores effectively.
• Maintain MSSI/WSSI reports and manage monthly intake and deliveries according to brand and market needs.
• Ensure markets maintain optimum inventory levels and reduce aged inventory.
• Work with the buying team to develop an effective, profitable assortment range.
• Collaborate with the Financial Planner to forecast budgets and estimates by region and store.
• Manage range plans together with buying to ensure OTB control.
• Engage with Marketing, Operations, and Brand teams to confirm the commercial calendar for all brands.
• Support and develop allocators/admin assistants towards future managerial roles.
• Maintain regular meetings with stakeholders to ensure effective relationships and alignment.

SAP Inventory Management & Reporting

• Ensure SAP is maintained and operating effectively from an inventory standpoint.
• Develop and publish reliable reports to facilitate management decision-making.
• Understand gaps in the existing inventory control process and address them pro‑actively.
• Assist in developing and enforcing robust inventory/stock procedures to ensure efficient SAP replenishment.

Required Skills To Be Successful:

• Strategic planning and analytical abilities.
• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office Programs.
• Knowledge of retail systems and SAP.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.

What Qualifies You For The Role:

• College or University level graduate.
• Experience in retail and fashion preferred.
• Proficient strategic planning, analytical skills, and knowledge of Microsoft Office and retail systems.
• Strong communication skills, leadership, influencing others, managing complexity, and strategic thinking.

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