Merchandise Planning Manager - DTC

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

Job summary

ASICS is seeking a skilled DTC Planning leader to own Open to Buy and merchandise planning for ASICS Direct channels, spanning Full Price, Outlet, and E‑Commerce. The role reports to the Head of Planning and drives stock, promotions, and profitability for omni‑channel retail.

You will coach a high‑performing DTC planning team, forecast at product series level, and partner with channel heads to optimise seasonal calendars in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary and industry degree/qualification.
• A practical understanding of retail/commercial environment
• Advanced Excel and M365 capabilities
• Established ability to lead and motivate a high performing team
• Demonstrated commercial acumen
• Excellent attention to detail
• Exceptional organisation skills and ability to prioritise effectively in an agile, seasonal environment
• High level initiative, enthusiasm, and self-motivation
• The ability to think strategically and identify key opportunities and improvements.

Responsibilities

• Own the Open to Buy and Merchandise Planning for DTC channels across Full Price and Outlet Stores and E‑Commerce.
• Coach, develop and maintain engagement and focus of a high performing DTC Planning team.
• Forecast sales at a product series level to inform inventory requirements and provide in-season insights.
• Manage OTB gross up assumptions to balance stock with sales targets.
• Manage markdown and margin forecasts to balance sell-through and profitability.
• Maintain DTC inventory within months of cover targets.
• Ensure stores maintain capacity and stock health KPIs.
• Drive the narrative for DTC trade results and opportunities in-season.
• Lead the seasonal hindsight review to feed future ranging decisions.
• Partner with channel heads to plan the seasonal promotional calendar.

Skills

Advanced Excel

M365 capabilities

Team leadership

Commercial acumen

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Strategic thinking

Agile / seasonal planning

Retail knowledge

Education

Retail/Commerce degree

Tools

Excel

Microsoft 365

Job description

At ASICS we pride ourselves on being the product experts and creating exceptional brand experiences. We represent a high-performance culture and mindset, focused on accountability, fairness and celebrating the intrinsic feeling from personal success.

Job Description

Reporting directly to the Head of Planning, this role is responsible for owning theOpen to Buy andMerchandise Planning process for DTC channels across Full Price and Outlet Stores, and our E-Commerce business.

So, what goes into making that happen?

• Maintain the DTC Open to Buy ensuring that sales plans can be achieved with available inventory
• Coach, develop and maintain engagement and focus of a high performing DTC Planning team
• Forecast sales at a product aeries level to inform future Inventory requirements, and provide actionable trading insights in-season
• Manage the OTB gross up assumptions, ensuring adequate stock is bought for sales withoutexceedingInventory targets
• Manage markdown and margin forecasts, to balance achievement of sell through and profitability targets for DTC channels
• Maintain the DTC inventory position within months of cover targets
• Ensure stores are maintained at capacity levels, with stock health KPI's achieved
• Drive the narrative for DTC trade results, highlighting successes and opportunities in-season
• Lead the DTC seasonal hindsight review, to ensure seasonal learnings are collaboratively shared within the business, and feed strategies into future ranging decisions
• Partner with channel heads to plan the seasonal promotional calendar
  

In return, we offer:

• Strong experience in a learning and development role designing, developing and delivering learning programs
• Experience using adult learning principles, instructional design methodologies and training evaluation practices
• Strong communication, presentation and facilitation skills, with the ability to engage audiences and make learning practical
• Ability to build strong, trusted relationships with internal teams, people managers and external providers
• Energetic, proactive and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple projects and competing priorities
• Hands-on, self-motivated and well organised, with the ability to work autonomously and deliver quality outcomes
• A continuous improvement mindset and genuine drive to improve yourself, our systems and the learning experience for our people
• A tertiary qualification in instructional design, education, human resources, psychology or a related field is desirable, along with alignment to our Sound Mind, Sound Body ethos and values of Respect, Courtesy, Persistence, Teamwork, Preparation and Learning from Failure.

Qualifications

That’s enough about us! Here’s what we hope to see from you:

• Relevant tertiary and industry degree/qualification
• A practical understanding of retail/commercial environment
• Advanced Excel and M365 capabilities
• Established ability to lead and motivate a high performing team
• Demonstrated commercialacumen
• Excellent attention to detail
• Exceptional organisation skills and ability to prioritise effectively in an agile, seasonal environment
• High level initiative,enthusiasm,and self-motivation
• The ability to think strategically and identify key opportunities and improvements.

Additional Information

ASICS is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, where everyones ideas and contributions are respected. We are committed to engaging a diverse workforce, and our hiring decisions are made with the best candidate for the role at the forefront. We encourage people of all ages, abilities, and cultural backgrounds to apply to join our team.

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