Merchandise Planner

ProCook; Stroud; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking

Free gym

Hybrid working

40% staff discount

33 days leave

Job summary

ProCook is seeking an experienced Merchandise Planner to define category strategy and deliver stock for all channels. You will drive demand planning by product category, SKU, channel and location, and lead the category and promotional critical path to ensure on-time delivery.

You will own the Range, Trading and Markdown Plans with line-level forecasts, working with Buying and suppliers to confirm stock needs and production capacity.

Qualifications

• Experience in a retail merchandising environment.
• Strong knowledge of range and category management.
• Proven project management skills to coordinate cross-functional tasks.
• Data-driven with analytical and forecasting capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver the category strategy and stock requirements for ProCook channels.
• Forecast demand by product category, SKU, channel and location.
• Lead the critical path for category and promotions and ensure on-time delivery.
• Maintain Range Plan, Trading Plan and Markdown Plan with accurate line-level forecasts.
• Coordinate with Buying and suppliers on stock requirements and production capacity.
• Provide weekly/seasonal analysis of range and promotional performance for senior stakeholders.
• Develop quarterly demand planning with suppliers to stay within the critical path.
• Establish promotional and seasonal forecasting models for merchandise changes.
• Coordinate product forecasts with Buying and Supply Chain and manage clearance stock and price actions.
• Manage open-to-buy and stock plans to meet sales and margin targets.
• Coordinate internal teams to deliver volumes suitable for warehouse and retail execution.

Skills

Retail merchandising experience

Range & category management

Forecasting & forecasting models

Project management

Stakeholder management & communication

Job description

Let’s get Cooking!

We are looking for an experienced Merchandise Planner to join our team.

The Merchandise Planner will be responsible for defining and delivering the category strategy, delivering agreed stock requirements to all ProCook channels and determining promotional and pricing activities to drive sustainable growth through increased sales and profitability.

Key areas of responsibility

• Working closely with Buying, responsible for accurate category forecasting and demand planning, creating and maintaining appropriate trackers and planners for full visibility of range architecture and performance
• Establish systematic methods and tools to monitor and analyse stock, availability and sales performance trend data to develop forecasts by product category, SKU, channel and location
• Lead and manage the category and promotional critical path and act as an ambassador across all functions for delivering Commercial activity on time and in full at times
• Ownership of maintaining accurate Range Plan, Trading Plan, Markdown Plan and line-level forecasts
• Working with the Buying team & suppliers to confirm stock requirements, production capacity and order management within the critical path
• Provide weekly, seasonal, and ad hoc analysis of range and promotional performance, including to senior stakeholders Incorporate company financial reporting and budget requirements into merchandise plans and recommendations
• Develop and communicate quarterly demand planning with suppliers to ensure stock requirements are managed within the critical path
• Establish a promotional and seasonal forecasting model and plan for implementing merchandise changes
• Coordinate product forecasts with Buying and communicate to Supply Chain Ensure that clearance products are managed and sold through at an appropriate rate, taking price action as required to achieve stock, sales and margin targets
• Manage open to buy options and stock plans to deliver to sales and stock targets
• Inner/Outer management coordinated with Buying and delivered in volumes suitable for warehouse requirements and retail execution

This is a full-time role, requiring 37.5 hours per week, with a hybrid working arrangement of 3 days in the office and 2 days remote at our Gloucester location (non-negotiable).

• Must have experience in retail merchandising environment
• Solid knowledge of range and category management
• Project management skills to facilitate and track cross-functional tasks, spotting potential risks and managing the
• Data driven with good analytical and forecasting skills
• Strong stakeholder management skills in order to work across multiple teams
• Excellent communication and people skills

What’s in it for You?

• Salary is up to £40,000 depending on experience and skills
• Total value of our perks is valued at up to£3,000+ per year
• Free parkingon-site
• Free gym accesson-site
• Unlimited coffee and teathroughout the day
• Free fresh fruit and cakedaily
• Subsidised meals- breakfast and lunch
• Hybrid Working: 3 days in our inspiring ProCook HQ, 2 days flexible remote
• Opportunity to work with a passionate team
• Generous colleague discount- 40% off to spend in store or online + 30% for friends and family
• 2 x Annual paid volunteering days
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Salary Sacrifice Electric Car Scheme Policy + Cycle to work scheme (contingent to company policy)
• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Pay
• Friends and Family Referral Scheme
• 33 Days Annual Leave (including bank holidays)
• Discretionary bonus scheme of up to 10%
• B Corp certified companycommitted to ethical practices and sustainability
• A company recognised as a Great Place to Work for 5 consecutive years
• Disability Confident Leader

We Welcome Everyone

At ProCook we are committed to diversity and inclusion, and we welcome applications from people of all abilities.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please let us know. We’re committed to making our recruitment process as inclusive and accessible as possible.

About ProCook’s Sustainability Commitment:

At ProCook, sustainability is at the heart of what we do.

As a certified B Corporation, we strive to balance profit with purpose, focusing on reducing waste, and ensuring ethical business practices.

By joining our team, you will contribute to our efforts in creating a positive impact on the planet.