Planning Manager - Merchandise

AlFuttaim; Dubai; On-site; AED 250,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

Al-Futtaim Retail in Dubai invites a Planning Manager - Merchandise to lead strategic merchandise financial planning, forecasting, and inventory performance. You will partner with Buying and Operations, oversee six-month seasonal plans, guide Planners, and translate performance data into actionable commercial decisions.

The role also develops the Planning team, coordinates inventory across channels, and aligns planning with the company’s financial objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or related field.
• 5 years of experience in a retail planning role.
• Demonstrated team leadership experience, with 2-4 years preferred.
• Strong analytical and financial capabilities.
• Commercial understanding of the factors influencing sales, margin, and inventory.
• Proficiency with merchandise planning systems.
• Practical experience in merchandise forecasting.
• Strong Excel-based analytical skills.
• Ability to translate performance data into actionable commercial insights.
• People management and team development capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Direct the development, execution, and communication of strategic merchandise financial plans.
• Partner with Buying and Operations teams to maximize sales and margin through forecasting, assortment, and inventory strategies.
• Manage six-month Seasonal Merchandise Plans in collaboration with Buying and Sales Operations.
• Ensure seasonal plans remain aligned with company financial objectives.
• Guide Planners through development, presentation, and defense of their seasonal merchandise plans.
• Review and approve initial buy and reorder quantities to support the appropriate merchandise assortment.
• Develop Conceptual Assortment Plans covering design requirements and customer choice counts.
• Oversee inventory and receipts against weeks-of-supply targets and coordinate cross-channel inventory planning.

Skills

Forecasting

Excel

Merchandise planning

Analytics

Team leadership

Inventory management

Budgeting

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration

Tools

Merchandise planning systems

Job description

Planning Manager - Merchandise Job Snapshot Role: Planning Manager Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Industry: Retail Function: Merchandise Planning and Buying Experience: 5 years of experience in a retail planning role Job Type: Full-time Position Overview Al-Futtaim Retail is hiring a Planning Manager - Merchandise in Dubai, United Arab Emirates to lead strategic merchandise financial planning and strengthen sales, margin, forecasting, and inventory performance. Working closely with Buying and Operations teams, the role will direct seasonal merchandise plans, oversee inventory and receipt strategies, guide Planners, and use commercial analysis to keep merchandise decisions aligned with the company 's financial objectives. Job Details Country: United Arab Emirates City: Dubai Industry: Retail Function: Merchandise Planning and Buying Salary: Not disclosed Gender: No Preference Candidate Nationality: Not specified Job Type: Full-time Overview of the Role The Planning Manager will provide commercial and analytical leadership across merchandise planning activities. The position requires a strong understanding of the relationship between sales, margin, inventory, assortment, forecasting, and promotional activity, with responsibility for translating business performance into actionable planning decisions. The manager will also develop the Planning team, coordinate inventory requirements across channels, and improve planning approaches based on current trends, performance results, and lessons learned.

Strategic and Merchandise Planning

• Direct the development, execution, and communication of strategic merchandise financial plans.
• Partner with Buying and Operations teams to maximize sales and margin through effective forecasting, assortment, and inventory strategies.
• Manage six-month Seasonal Merchandise Plans in collaboration with Buying and Sales Operations.
• Ensure seasonal plans remain aligned with company financial objectives.
• Guide Planners through the development, presentation, and defense of their seasonal merchandise plans.
• Review and approve initial buy and reorder quantities to support the appropriate merchandise assortment.
• Develop Conceptual Assortment Plans covering design requirements and customer choice counts.

Inventory and Margin Management

The Planning Manager will oversee inventory and receipts against targeted weeks-of-supply objectives while working with Merchandising to improve receipt flow and gross margin performance.

• Monitor inventory levels and incoming receipts against established targets.
• Coordinate receipt flow to support availability while maintaining inventory discipline.
• Manage markdown and promotional strategies to address aged inventory.
• Direct cross-channel inventory planning to serve customer requirements effectively.
• Evaluate sales performance and initiate corrective actions when required.

Business Review and Forecasting

• Manage the Monthly Business Review process.
• Guide Planners in preparing forecasts and business performance reporting.
• Present top-line results and forecasts during MBR meetings.
• Prepare department-level overviews and monthly hindsight recaps.
• Assess current business trends and apply relevant findings to future planning.
• Use lessons from previous performance to improve responsiveness to changing trends and planning frameworks.

Team Leadership and Development

The role provides direct guidance to Planners across both seasonal and shorter-term planning activities. This includes developing Weekly Unit Plans and Key Item programs, strengthening forecasting discipline, and ensuring planning decisions remain commercially focused. Store visits will form part of the role, providing opportunities to observe merchandise performance directly and strengthen working relationships with store teams.

What Qualifies You for the Role

• Bachelor 's Degree in Business Administration or a related field.
• 5 years of experience in a retail planning role.
• Demonstrated team leadership experience, with 2-4 years preferred.
• Strong analytical and financial capabilities.
• Commercial understanding of the factors influencing sales, margin, and inventory.
• Proficiency with merchandise planning systems.
• Practical experience in merchandise forecasting.
• Strong Excel-based analytical skills.
• Ability to translate performance data into actionable commercial insights.
• People management and team development capabilities.

About Al-Futtaim Retail

Al-Futtaim Retail is part of Al-Futtaim and operates across MENA and Southeast Asia through partnerships with international brands including IKEA, ACE, Marks and Spencer, and the Inditex Group. Its portfolio also includes brands such as Watsons and Kiabi, while the business continues to invest in digital innovation, AI capabilities, customer experience, and loyalty platforms.