Strategic Retail Planner: Inventory & Merchandising

Al Tayer Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Al Tayer Group is seeking an Associate Planner to join its Retail Planning team. The role focuses on developing merchandise plans that maximize sales, margin, stock productivity, and inventory performance across our stores.

You will partner with Buying, Supply Chain, Finance, and Leadership to develop seasonal and annual plans, manage OTB, monitor performance, and drive inventory optimization strategies in a fast-paced fashion retail environment.

Qualifications

• 7-8 years of experience in Merchandise Planning, Retail Planning, Demand Planning, or Commercial Planning within a retail environment.
• Minimum 2 years of hands-on Open-to-Buy (OTB) management experience.
• Strong experience managing sales forecasting, inventory planning, stock optimization, and trading analysis.
• Proven experience working closely with Buying and Merchandising teams.
• Strong understanding of KPIs including sales, margin, sell-through, stock turn, cover, and markdown performance.
• Experience planning across multiple stores, categories, or regions.
• Advanced Excel and analytical capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage seasonal, annual, and departmental merchandise plans.
• Drive sales, gross margin, sell-through, and inventory performance against commercial targets.
• Own and manage the Open-to-Buy (OTB) process to ensure effective stock investment and inventory control.
• Review trading performance and provide recommendations to maximize sales and profitability.
• Identify risks and opportunities through sales, stock, and trend analysis.
• Lead markdown and promotional planning to reduce aged stock and protect margin.
• Monitor inventory levels, stock cover, and replenishment strategies across stores.
• Partner with Buying teams on range planning, forecasting, and buying decisions.
• Manage stock allocation, replenishment, and inter-store transfers to optimize inventory productivity.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and vendors to improve delivery performance and stock availability.
• Produce planning reports and communicate performance updates, forecasts, and action plans to key stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement across merchandise planning processes and decision-making.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Analytical capabilities

Tools

Planning tools

Forecasting systems

Retail ERP platforms

Job description

Al Tayer Group is seeking an Associate Planner to join its Retail Planning team. The role focuses on developing merchandise plans that maximize sales, margin, stock productivity, and inventory performance across our stores.

You will partner with Buying, Supply Chain, Finance, and Leadership to develop seasonal and annual plans, manage OTB, monitor performance, and drive inventory optimization strategies in a fast-paced fashion retail environment.