Strategic Category Planner - Retail Merchandising

Officeworks; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Team discounts

Benefits program

Growing families policy

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible public holidays

Job summary

Officeworks in Melbourne is seeking a commercially minded Category Planner to drive sales, margin, stock productivity and inventory performance across key product categories. You will partner with Category Managers, Forecasting and Supply Chain teams to develop and execute merchandise plans that optimise stock and profitability while delivering outstanding customer outcomes.

This role blends strategic planning with financial analysis and stakeholder management to influence category performance.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in Merchandise Planning or Category Planning.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen with experience managing sales, margin and inventory performance.
• Experience developing merchandise plans, budgets and forecasting for a multi-site retail environment.
• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into practical business recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across Buying, Supply Chain and Forecasting teams.
• Experience using planning and reporting tools such as SAP, Power BI or BW.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver category financial plans, budgets and forecasts to drive sales, margin and stock turn performance.
• Manage in-season trading, inventory levels, open-to-buy (OTB) and clearance strategies to optimise results.
• Partner with Category Managers on ranging decisions, assortment planning and range reviews.
• Work closely with Forecasting and Supply Planning teams to ensure inventory and demand plans are aligned.
• Analyse sales, stock and customer trends to identify risks, opportunities and actionable insights.
• Contribute to the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process and support key business decisions through data-driven recommendations.

Skills

Merchandise Planning

Category Planning

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Forecasting

Tools

SAP

Power BI

BW

Job description

At Officeworks we make bigger things happen. Our customers, our team, and our community are our heart and soul. And if our brilliant people have taught us anything, it is that we can do all kinds of incredible things, each and every day.

Fast paced. Innovative. Inspiring. With close to 10,000 team members and a national footprint of more than 173 retail stores Australia wide – we’re focused on delivering a wide range, low price and great service. We’re about inspiring new ideas and thinking outside the box. We’re about kicking goals, having a laugh and pushing each other. We are about being rewarded and supported. We’re about teaching a customer something new and supporting the community. We’re about making a difference.

About the role

We're looking for a commercially minded Category Planner to drive sales, margin, stock productivity and inventory performance across key product categories. Working closely with Category Managers, Forecasting and Supply Chain teams, you'll develop and execute merchandise plans that optimise stock flow, maximise profitability and deliver outstanding customer outcomes.

This is a highly visible role that combines strategic planning, financial analysis and stakeholder management to influence category performance and business results.

What you'll do:

• Develop and deliver category financial plans, budgets and forecasts to drive sales, margin and stock turn performance.
• Manage in-season trading, inventory levels, open-to-buy (OTB) and clearance strategies to optimise results.
• Partner with Category Managers on ranging decisions, assortment planning and range reviews.
• Work closely with Forecasting and Supply Planning teams to ensure inventory and demand plans are aligned.
• Analyse sales, stock and customer trends to identify risks, opportunities and actionable insights.
• Contribute to the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process and support key business decisions through data-driven recommendations.

About you

You're a commercially minded planner who loves using data and insights to drive better outcomes for customers and the business. You build strong relationships across teams, enjoy working in a fast-paced retail environment and have a natural ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution. You bring a curious mindset, challenge the status quo and are always looking for opportunities to improve sales, margin and inventory performance.

What you'll bring

• 5+ years' experience in Merchandise Planning, Category Planning or a similar retail planning role.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen with proven experience managing sales, margin and inventory performance.
• Experience developing merchandise plans, budgets and forecasting for a multi-site retail environment.
• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into practical business recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience partnering across Buying, Supply Chain and Forecasting teams.
• Experience using planning and reporting tools such as SAP, Power BI, BW or similar retail systems.

Our culture

If you’re searching for an organisation that’s truly committed to its people, where you can thrive in a culture of togetherness, then join Officeworks and let’s make bigger things happen – for all of us! We celebrate our teams’ uniqueness by offering genuine team member benefits to the Officeworks family:

• We’re all about giving you the flexibility you need to keep things balanced to suit your individual needs.
• Enjoy generous discounts across Officeworks, Geeks2U, Bunnings, Kmart, Target and the wider Wesfarmers brands.
• Access to our Officeworks benefits program for exclusive discounts and perks across entertainment, travel, lifestyle, and health.
• Our Growing Families Policy supports team members during the exciting and challenging times of expanding their family
• We prioritise safety, mental health and wellbeing, offering access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) as well as other ongoing programs
• Our Flexible Public Holidays Policy supports those who observe cultural or religious holidays different from the standard public holidays in Australia
• Take advantage of outstanding learning and development programs to support your career growth
• Explore fantastic career opportunities across the broader Wesfarmers Group.

At Officeworks, we operate best when our team represents the communities we serve. We proudly commit to providing a safe and supportive work environment for our team. We encourage applications from all candidates of all ages, cultures (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), people with disabilities, and the LGBTQI+ community.

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