Assistant Merchandise Planner

The Talent Mill AU & NZ - Designer, Luxury, Fashion Retail Recruitment; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Talent Mill AU & NZ - Designer, Luxury, Fashion Retail Recruitment is seeking a Merchandise Allocator/Allocation Analyst. You will analyse sales and inventory performance, optimise stock across stores and eCommerce, and drive replenishment to maximise availability and reduce missed sales.

You will work with Buying, Planning and Retail teams to develop size curves, coordinate stock transfers and support new launches, balancing commercial outcomes with brand requirements.

Qualifications

• Experience in merchandise allocation, replenishment or inventory analysis in apparel/multi-channel retail.
• Strong Excel skills and the ability to analyse large datasets.
• Understanding of stock cover, sell-through, size curves and replenishment.
• Commercial mindset with ability to translate analysis into actionable recommendations.
• Attention to detail and the ability to juggle multiple brands and channels.
• Confident communication with Buying, Planning, Retail, eCommerce and Warehouse teams.

Responsibilities

• Analyse sales, sell-through, stock cover and inventory performance to determine stock allocations across stores and eCommerce.
• Manage replenishment requirements and identify opportunities to maximise availability and minimise missed sales.
• Develop size curves and PO size profiles based on historical data and channel needs.
• Monitor inventory across brands/categories/locations to identify imbalances and shortages.
• Coordinate stock transfers to improve sell-through and reduce excess inventory.
• Support new-store openings, seasonal launches and trade events through stock planning and allocation.
• Collaborate with Buying and Merchandise Planning to inform future purchasing decisions and reporting.

Skills

Excel

Data analysis

Stock analytics

Cross-functional comms

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Tools

Excel

Job description

An established Australian apparel and lifestyle business with a strong heritage, an impressive portfolio of internationally recognised brands and a growing presence across retail, wholesale and eCommerce, who have built a loyal customer following through its combination of quality product, trusted retail partnerships and a genuinely commercial approach to its operations.

The Role

This is a broad, commercially focused opportunity for someone who enjoys working with numbers, understanding product performance and turning data into meaningful commercial decisions.

Working closely with Merchandise Planning, Buying, Sales and wider operational teams, you'll play an important role in optimising inventory across retail and eCommerce, ensuring stock is strategically allocated, replenished and balanced in response to customer demand.

Importantly, this isn't simply an allocation administration role. You'll be encouraged to question the numbers, identify opportunities and make informed recommendations that influence stock availability, purchasing decisions and overall inventory productivity.

From analysing size curves and supporting future buys to managing replenishment, stock transfers and new product launches, you'll gain exposure to a varied and commercially engaging planning environment.

Day-to-day:

• Analyse sales, sell-through, stock cover and inventory performance to determine appropriate stock allocations across stores and eCommerce.
• Manage ongoing replenishment requirements, identifying opportunities to maximise availability and minimise missed sales.
• Develop and recommend size curves and purchase-order size profiles based on historical performance, customer demand and channel requirements.
• Monitor inventory across brands, categories and locations, identifying stock imbalances, slow-moving product and potential shortages.
• Recommend and coordinate stock transfers to improve sell-through, reduce excess inventory and support stronger commercial outcomes.
• Support new-store openings, seasonal collections, product launches and trade events through considered stock planning and allocation.
• Work closely with Buying and Merchandise Planning to provide meaningful analysis that supports future purchasing and assortment decisions.
• Prepare inventory reporting, highlight emerging risks and opportunities, and follow through on agreed commercial actions.
• Contribute to the improvement of allocation tools, reporting processes and replenishment strategies as the business continues to grow.

The Skillset

You may currently be working as a Merchandise Allocator, Allocation Analyst, Replenishment Analyst, Assistant Planner or Merchandise Planning Assistant, and are looking for an opportunity to broaden your responsibilities and have greater influence over commercial decisions.

Ideally, you'll bring:

• Previous experience within merchandise allocation, replenishment, inventory analysis or assistant merchandise planning, ideally within apparel, footwear or a multi-channel retail environment.
• Strong Excel capability and confidence analysing large volumes of sales, stock and inventory data.
• An understanding of stock cover, sell-through, size curves, store grading and replenishment principles.
• A commercial mindset, with the ability to identify trends, challenge assumptions and translate analysis into practical recommendations.
• Excellent attention to detail, organisation and the ability to balance competing priorities across multiple brands and channels.
• Confidence communicating with cross-functional stakeholders, particularly Buying, Planning, Retail, eCommerce and Warehouse teams.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving, with an interest in improving systems, processes and ways of working.

Above all, you'll be someone who enjoys getting into the detail but can also see the bigger commercial picture.