Merchandise Planning Leader: Inventory & Forecasting

Jobtailor; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking a Senior Merchandise Planning lead to oversee open-to-buy, forecasting, and inventory strategies across boutiques, digital channels and global markets.

You will translate trading results into actionable plans, manage a team of planners and ensure data integrity in pricing and promotions while delivering strong commercial outcomes.

Qualifications

• Proven senior experience in merchandise planning, forecasting and replenishment across multiple markets, ideally within fashion, apparel or lifestyle retail.
• Strong commercial acumen with advanced analytical and forecasting skills.
• Hands-on approach, with the ability to work confidently in the detail and translate trading results into practical actions.
• Experience mentoring and developing merchandise planners while remaining actively involved in day-to-day planning workload.
• High attention to detail and a rigorous approach to data integrity, pricing and promotional accuracy.
• Confident stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to communicate clear commercial insights across all levels of the business.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage competing deadlines, launch calendars and critical paths across a global business.

Responsibilities

• Manage and regularly review the Open To Buy, forecasting and inventory position, taking practical trade actions in response to sales performance, risks and opportunities.
• Prepare detailed weekly product reporting and translate results into clear actions that maximise sales, margin and stock productivity.
• Monitor sales, stock turn, sell-through, intake and inventory performance across boutiques, digital channels and global markets.
• Review seasonal, promotional and key trading-event performance, using the results to update future intake, range and inventory plans.
• Manage stock-on-hand across core and fashion products, maintaining availability while minimising aged, slow-moving and excess inventory.
• Review product performance and identify opportunities to repeat, discontinue, move products from fashion to core, or move stock to markdown.
• Oversee daily replenishment and regularly adjust boutique targets, grades and space allocations to reflect performance, capacity and trading periods.
• Review warehouse stock and work closely with Warehouse and 3PL partners to manage product arrivals, stock availability, bottlenecks and dispatch requirements.
• Manage the product launch calendar and coordinate stock allocation to support on-time launches across boutiques, digital channels and all markets.
• Maintain accurate product, pricing, promotional, purchase order and inventory data across planning systems.
• Partner with Design, Production, Retail, Marketing, Digital and Finance to keep product activity on track and support key commercial initiatives.
• Manage and develop the Merchandise Planning team through clear priorities, regular communication and coaching, while remaining actively involved in the day-to-day planning work.

Skills

Merchandise planning

Forecasting

Replenishment

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Team leadership

Job description

• Manage and regularly review the Open To Buy, forecasting and inventory position, taking practical trade actions in response to sales performance, risks and opportunities.
• Prepare detailed weekly product reporting and translate results into clear actions that maximise sales, margin and stock productivity.
• Monitor sales, stock turn, sell-through, intake and inventory performance across boutiques, digital channels and global markets.
• Review seasonal, promotional and key trading-event performance, using the results to update future intake, range and inventory plans.
• Manage stock-on-hand across core and fashion products, maintaining availability while minimising aged, slow-moving and excess inventory.
• Review product performance and identify opportunities to repeat, discontinue, move products from fashion to core, or move stock to markdown.
• Oversee daily replenishment and regularly adjust boutique targets, grades and space allocations to reflect performance, capacity and trading periods.
• Review warehouse stock and work closely with Warehouse and 3PL partners to manage product arrivals, stock availability, bottlenecks and dispatch requirements.
• Manage the product launch calendar and coordinate stock allocation to support on-time launches across boutiques, digital channels and all markets.
• Maintain accurate product, pricing, promotional, purchase order and inventory data across planning systems.
• Partner with Design, Production, Retail, Marketing, Digital and Finance to keep product activity on track and support key commercial initiatives.
• Manage and develop the Merchandise Planning team through clear priorities, regular communication and coaching, while remaining actively involved in the day-to-day planning work.

Requirements

• Proven senior experience in merchandise planning, forecasting and replenishment across multiple markets, ideally within fashion, apparel or lifestyle retail
• Strong commercial acumen with advanced analytical and forecasting skills
• A hands-on approach, with the ability to work confidently in the detail and translate trading results into practical actions
• Experience managing, mentoring and developing merchandise planners while remaining actively involved in the day-to-day planning workload
• High attention to detail and a rigorous approach to data integrity, pricing and promotional accuracy
• Confident stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to communicate clear commercial insights across all levels of the business
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage competing deadlines, launch calendars and critical paths across a global business

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in merchandise planning, forecasting, and inventory management within the fashion retail sector, with a strong focus on data integrity and stakeholder communication. Capable of leading and developing teams while driving commercial initiatives and optimizing stock performance across multiple markets.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Merchandise Planning
• Forecasting
• Inventory Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Analytical Skills

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Sales Performance Analysis
• Stock Turn Monitoring
• Product Reporting
• Replenishment Management
• Data Integrity
• Pricing Accuracy
• Promotional Planning
• Inventory Position Management
• Market Analysis
• Product Launch Coordination

Soft Skills

• Attention to Detail
• Communication Skills
• Organizational Skills
• Mentoring
• Team Development

Industry Keywords

• Fashion Retail
• Apparel
• Lifestyle Retail
• Commercial Acumen
• Global Markets