Merchandise Planning Manager (c.12m FTC)

Gymshark; Metropolitan Borough of Solihull; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic fitness brand in Solihull is seeking a Planning Manager to drive strategy and performance across product categories. The successful candidate will perform financial modeling, manage inventory, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to maximize growth. Essential qualifications include experience in merchandise planning and strong analytical skills. The role is hybrid, requiring at least 3 days a week in the office.

Benefits

Funded Healthcare benefit

25 days holiday + birthday off

Contributory Employer pension scheme

Flexible benefits programme

Gymshark Employee Discount

Access to High Street cashback

Financial, Physical and Mental Wellbeing Support

Enhanced Family Leave package

Life Assurance

Gym Membership to The Lifting Club

Qualifications

• Previous experience in merchandise planning or financial planning.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with tight deadlines.
• Experience in business analytics is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategy and performance across multiple product categories.
• Create sales, margin, and inventory plans for planning.
• Oversee style-level weekly unit sales plans in season.

Skills

Analytical skills

Financial modeling

Problem-solving skills

Strong written communication

Strong verbal communication

Technical aptitude

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Overview

We’re looking for a dynamic Planning Manager to drive strategy and performance across multiple product categories. In this pivotal role, you’ll turn data into action, balancing sales, inventory, financial goals, and emerging trends to maximize growth and profitability. Partnering closely with Merchandising, you’ll forecast future product performance, guide in-season strategies, and optimise product distribution across the region. This is a 12m FTC however, depending on notice periods this may be a shortened contract.

As the guardian of our largest financial asset...our product inventory, you’ll play a key role in unlocking business potential and shaping the success of an entire gender category (Mens)

What you'll be doing

Preseason

• Create preseason sales, margin and inventory plans for full gender across category, department , class, style and color. Analy s e previous quarter results; identify “missed sales” and growth drivers over prior year.
• Summari s e the opportunity and risk of a product plan as it relates to trend and financial metrics: initial mark-up, average unit retail, average unit cost, net margin pounds/ dollars and rate.
• Present financials to cross-functional team in all Commercial Process Milestones.
• Recommend Gender style count, cc count and flow of product for optimal margin results within a quarter ; maximi s ing productivity season over season.
• Collaborate with Head of Planning for the Region to develop & present the financial strategy associated with grow, maintain , decline categories to cross-functional team in Commercial Process Milestones based on current trend, historical findings or related categories.

In Season

• Provide daily and weekly updates on business as it relates to last forecast, identifying trends, and highlighting selling that exceeds or falls short of expectation.
• Initiate conversations with cross functional partners regarding potential risk or opportunities and suggest changes to course of action for both current and future quarters.
• Prepare sales, margin and inventory forecast and partner with Head of Planning in monthly OTB forecast meetings for current year; provide sales trend opportunity for future quarters, validate stock-to-sales relationships, maximi s e receipt flow to improve turn, reconcile receipts and suggest pricing strategies to drive profitability.
• Monitor core style selling trends and partner with merchandising on receipt flow plan.
• Oversee Gender allocations ensuring in store instock accuracy at the category, style, color and size level with the right weeks of supply to drive uninterrupted commercial results.
• Generate and manage style level weekly unit sales plans in season to inform total gender sales expectation by week/month/quarter and identify styles contributing +/- to forecast.
• Partner with Head of Planning to propose markdown and promotional strategies to maximi s e profitability on the life of an item or category; provide pricing and margin pound/ dollar gain/loss scenarios.

What you'll need

Essential Criteria:

• Previous experience in merchandise planning, allocation, merchandising, financial planning, strategy or business analytics
• Strong analytical, financial modeling and problem-solving skill s
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills
• Ability to manage multiple work streams/projects with tight deadlines
• Strong technical aptitude, including advanced competency in Microsoft Excel and ability to quickly master new applications and systems

This is a hybrid role and would require the successful candidate to attend at least 3 days a week in GSIQ, Solihull, UK.

Closing date

CLOSING DATE: Thursday 16th October 2025

Belonging at Gymshark

Our mission is to be a place where everyone belongs. We’re an equal opportunities employer, and for us that means we always strive to be as inclusive as possible in all aspects of employment, right from your application. We’re committed to finding reasonable adjustments* for candidates with specific needs or have a disability during our recruitment process, and all applicants will be considered fairly and equally. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. *If you’d like to request a reasonable adjustment please email [e-mail] .

About us

We’re here to unite the conditioning community. We believe that putting the sweat in today, prepares us for tomorrow. So, we give people the tools they need to reach further, go faster, be stronger. We celebrate those who show up – for themselves – to be their physical or mental best, whatever that means for them. It’s what we want for our community, and our team. A team that’s growing rapidly around the world. A collective of talented individuals working together to invent Gymshark’s future. Our plans are ambitious, and we’re looking for people who want to join us for the ride – our growth will be your growth.

The perks

Standard benefits include:

• Funded Healthcare benefit
• 25 days holiday, additional day for your birthday & Bank Holidays
• Contributory Employer pension scheme
• Flexible benefits programme – including salary sacrifice EV scheme, dental insurance, cycle to work, tech scheme, holiday trading
• Gymshark Employee Discount & long service awards
• Access to High Street cashback and discounts
• Financial, Physical and Mental Wellbeing Support
• Enhanced Family Leave package
• Life Assurance

Office location specific benefits include (IQ):

• Gym Membership to The Lifting Club (LC)
• Onsite lunch provision & coffee bars

Office location specific benefits include (LDN):

• Funded multi-site fitness membership

Note: The bonus program and benefits have certain eligibility requirements. Gymshark reserves the right to amend these programs in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.