Strategic Merchandise Planning Lead

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

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.