Senior Merchandiser / Planning Manager (Beauty & Lifestyle)

SSC Egypt; Bahrain; On-site; BHD 24,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

SSC Egypt is seeking a Senior Merchandise Planning Manager to oversee the financial, inventory, and assortment strategy for beauty and lifestyle categories across GCC markets.

You will design category mixes for skincare, cosmetics, fragrance, haircare, and accessories; own Open-To-Buy budgets; forecast demand; analyze stock turns; and lead a team of junior planners, collaborating with Buying, Operations, Finance, Marketing, and Supply Chain.

Qualifications

• 5–8+ years in retail planning or category management.
• Experience in GCC/UAE preferred.
• Strong analytics and financial acumen.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and Excel/Power BI.

Responsibilities

• Design GCC-wide category mixes across skincare, cosmetics, fragrance, haircare, and beauty accessories.
• Own Open-To-Buy budgets, seasonal plans, GM targets, and stock investment limits.
• Forecast demand using historical data, sell-through, stock turn, and Weeks-of-Supply (WOS).
• Collaborate with Buyers, Operations, Finance, Marketing, and Supply Chain to align drops and promos with stock.
• Review weekly/monthly trading performance and address slow-moving lines or stock-outs.
• Lead and mentor junior planners and analysts with KPI-driven culture.

Skills

Retail merchandise planning

Demand forecasting

Category management

Data analytics

GMROI understanding

Tools

SAP

Oracle ERP

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Operating retail and beauty brands across the UAE, the Senior Merchandise or Planning Manager oversees the financial, inventory, and assortment strategy for beauty and lifestyle categories.

Core Job Responsibilities

• Assortment & Range Architecture: Design and execute GCC-wide category mixes and product portfolios across skincare, color cosmetics, fragrance, haircare, and beauty accessories tailored to local consumer preferences.
• Financial & OTB Planning: Own and manage Open-To-Buy (OTB) budgets, seasonal sales plans, gross margin targets, and inventory investment limits to maximize profitability and minimize stock risk.
• Forecasting & Demand Analysis: Analyze historical sales data, sell-through rates, stock turn, and Weeks-of-Supply (WOS) to forecast demand and validate buying projections.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Buyers, Operations, Finance, Marketing, and Supply Chain teams to align product drops and promotional calendars with stock availability.
• Trading & Performance Optimization: Review weekly and monthly commercial trading performance, identifying slow-moving lines or stock-outs and taking immediate corrective action.
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and build the capabilities of junior planners and analysts, driving a high-performance culture backed by clear KPIs.

Key Requirements

• Experience: Typically 5 to 8+ years in retail merchandise planning, demand forecasting, or category management—ideally within prestige beauty, cosmetics, or multi-brand retail in the GCC/UAE.
• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in retail planning systems, ERP software (such as SAP or Oracle), and data analytics tools (Excel, Power BI, or specialized planning platforms).
• Commercial Acumen: Strong understanding of retail financial metrics including Gross Margin Return on Investment (GMROI), sell-through, and inventory turn