Merchandise Planning Manager

JD Sports Canada; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

JD Sports Canada in Vancouver seeks a Planning Manager to oversee end-to-end planning, inventory levels, and demand forecasting to align with sales objectives and customer expectations.

You will collaborate with Buying, Retail, Supply Chain, and Finance to drive stock accuracy, maximize profitability, and lead a data-driven planning team across channels.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of merchandise allocation experience.
• Innate understanding of inventory management, merchandise planning and supply chain in a retail environment.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience within Multichannel Sports retail merchandising and planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the planning team, setting clear objectives and fostering a collaborative, data-driven culture.
• Drive continuous improvement of planning processes and adopt new techniques or methodologies as needed.
• Develop comprehensive training and development programs for the planning and allocations team.
• Foster collaborative relationships across teams to drive business success.
• Partner with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to develop annual, seasonal, and monthly merchandise strategies.
• Own and manage the Open-to-Buy (OTB) process within department. Reporting into SLT.
• Create category-level product mixes based on historical data, SWOT analysis, and SLT guidance.
• Oversee the development of space and ranging plans for store distribution in line with the buying strategy.
• Guide and influence assortment decisions, providing strategic direction throughout the process.
• Manage inventory within KPIs approved by the SLT.
• Manage inbound forecast and execution with department
• Review weekly trading performance, identifying issues and preparing action plans for SLT trading meetings.
• Collaborate with planning and buying teams to manage markdown forecasts.
• Regularly visit stores to understand performance and create action plans that optimize results, communicating findings to the Retail team.
• Oversee store options and unit capacities to align with business goals.

Skills

Merchandise allocation

Inventory management

Forecasting

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

ERP merchandising system

Data analytics tools

Job description

Department: Merchandising – Planning & Allocations

Work Type: Permanent – Full-time

Compensation: $120,000 - $140,000

The Company:

JD Sports is a sports-fashion retail company with the incentive to inspire the emerging generation of globally minded consumers through a connection to the universal culture of sport, music, and fashion. Established in 1981, the JD Group is a leading global omnichannel retailer of Sports, Fashion, and Outdoor brands. With our retail stores expanding and evolving throughout Canada, The Group is continuously finding and developing talent that adds to the inclusive and diverse work culture. JD continuously and successfully sets the global standard for the retail experience best through the unique delivery of the world’s most authentic brands to the market. Our commitment to showcasing brands in a premium environment and stores remains a key part of the JD strategy.

The Opportunity:

The Planning Manager will oversee the end-to-end planning process for JD Sports Canada, ensuring product ranges, inventory levels, and demand forecasts align with sales objectives and customer expectations. This role will work closely with cross-functional teams, including Buying, Retail, Supply Chain, and Finance, to drive stock accuracy, optimize product availability, and maximize profitability.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and mentor the planning team, setting clear objectives and fostering a collaborative, data-driven culture.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, streamlining planning processes, and adopting new techniques or methodologies as needed.
• Develop comprehensive training and development programs for the planning and allocations team.
• Foster collaborative relationships across teams to drive business success.
• Partner with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to develop annual, seasonal, and monthly merchandise strategies.
• Own and manage the Open-to-Buy (OTB) process within department. Reporting into SLT
• Create category-level product mixes based on historical data, SWOT analysis, and SLT guidance.
• Oversee the development of space and ranging plans for store distribution in line with the buying strategy.
• Guide and influence assortment decisions, providing strategic direction throughout the process.
• Manage inventory within KPIs approved by the SLT.
• Manage inbound forecast and execution with department
• Review weekly trading performance, identifying issues and preparing action plans for SLT trading meetings.
• Collaborate with planning and buying teams to manage markdown forecasts.
• Regularly visit stores to understand performance and create action plans that optimize results, communicating findings to the Retail team.
• Oversee store options and unit capacities to align with business goals.

Behavioural:

• Delivering Excellence - Working at a consistently high standard with enthusiasm. You work to deliver a high quality of work to meet personal and team expectations.
• Responsibility (Delivers results) - Take ownership of your work and use your initiative to deliver. Take responsibility for your own actions & decisions.
• Teamwork - You work with others to reach a common goal; sharing information, supporting colleagues and searching out expertise and solutions from relevant stakeholders.
• Leadership - You lead by example through your behaviors and professional approach to work, inspiring your colleagues and driving for results.
• Communication - You communicate clearly and concisely, ensuring that the message is understood by all.

The Requirements:

• 8+ years of merchandise allocation experience
• Possess an innate understanding of inventory management, merchandise planning and supply chain in a retail environment.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience within Multichannel Sports retail merchandising and planning