Head of Merchandise Planning & Demand Forecasting

MacGregor Black; England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

MacGregor Black is partnering with a leading consumer retail business to appoint a Merchandise Planning Lead, a newly created strategic role establishing a best-in-class planning function. The role will shape how planning supports buying, supply chain and performance, using data-led forecasting, stock management, and promotional planning to optimise outcomes.

You will build and lead the merchandise planning function, develop annual, seasonal and promotional cycles, and own demand forecasting and

Qualifications

• 5+ years in merchandise/demand planning or commercial planning.
• Strong links between sales, margin, stock and working capital.
• Advanced Excel and data-driven planning experience.
• Experience building or reshaping planning processes.
• Experience leading a planning team.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the merchandise planning function and processes.
• Develop annual, seasonal and promotional planning cycles.
• Own demand forecasting and stock planning across a broad portfolio.
• Create a joined-up planning process across Buying, Operations and Finance.
• Introduce data-led forecasting methodologies and improve forecast accuracy.
• Establish stock cover, intake, availability and inventory health frameworks.
• Provide objective trading insight to support range decisions.
• Collaborate with suppliers and Operations on lead times and capacity.
• Lead a structured S&OP / business planning process.
• Provide robust planning input to budgets, forecasts and performance.

Skills

Merchandise planning

Demand planning

Forecasting

Excel

Analytics

Stakeholder management

Multi-channel retail

S&OP

Tools

Planning systems

Data tools

Reporting tools

Job description

MacGregor Black is partnering with a leading consumer retail business to appoint a Merchandise Planning Lead, a newly created strategic role establishing a best-in-class planning function. The role will shape how planning supports buying, supply chain and performance, using data-led forecasting, stock management, and promotional planning to optimise outcomes.

You will build and lead the merchandise planning function, develop annual, seasonal and promotional cycles, and own demand forecasting and