OTB Merchandise Planner

Heads Up For Tails; Gurugram District; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Job summary

Heads Up For Tails is seeking an OTB Merchandise Planning Manager in India to lead budgets, inventory planning, and performance across retail channels. You will balance sales, stock, profitability, and assortment while minimizing excess inventory and stock-outs.

Ideal candidates have 5–10+ years in OTB or merchandise planning and strong analytical, ERP, and MS Excel skills. This role demands stakeholder management and a detail‑oriented, organized mindset in a fast‑paced fashion retail

Qualifications

• 5–10 years in merchandise planning, retail planning, inventory management, or OTB planning within fashion/lifestyle retail.
• MBA/PGDM in Retail, Fashion Management, Supply Chain, Finance, or related field preferred.
• Strong understanding of retail math, inventory planning, forecasting, and OTB management.

Responsibilities

• Manage seasonal, monthly, and weekly OTB budgets across categories, brands, stores, and channels.
• Monitor stock intake, inventory levels, and sales performance to optimize stock productivity.
• Analyse sales trends, sell-through %, stock turn, GMROI, markdowns, and inventory aging.
• Forecast demand and recommend replenishment, liquidation, and corrective inventory actions.
• Work closely with merchandising and buying teams on assortment planning, product mix, and seasonal launches.
• Track sales, margin, and inventory productivity against business targets.
• Prepare MIS reports, dashboards, and planning insights for leadership reviews.
• Coordinate with supply chain, e-commerce, finance, store operations, and vendors for smooth execution.
• Ensure efficient utilization of ERP and retail planning systems for forecasting and inventory management.

Skills

Merchandise planning

Forecasting

Excel

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Education

MBA/PGDM in Retail or related field

Tools

ERP systems

MIS software

Retail planning tools

Job description

As an OTB Merchandise Planning Manager, the individual will be responsible for managing Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets, inventory planning, and merchandise performance across retail channels for a lifestyle retail business. S/he will ensure the right product availability at the right time by balancing sales, stock levels, profitability, and assortment planning while minimizing excess inventory and stock-outs. Needs to be analytical, commercially driven, detail-oriented, and highly organized with strong planning and stakeholder management skills.

Experience:

5–10+ years in OTB, Merchandise Planning, Retail Planning, or a similar role.

Key Responsibilities/What You Will Do

• Manage seasonal, monthly, and weekly OTB budgets across categories, brands, stores, and channels.
• Monitor stock intake, inventory levels, and sales performance to optimize stock productivity.
• Analyse sales trends, sell-through %, stock turn, GMROI, markdowns, and inventory aging.
• Forecast demand and recommend replenishment, liquidation, and corrective inventory actions.
• Work closely with merchandising and buying teams on assortment planning, product mix, and seasonal launches.
• Track sales, margin, and inventory productivity against business targets.
• Prepare MIS reports, dashboards, and planning insights for leadership reviews.
• Coordinate with supply chain, e-commerce, finance, store operations, and vendors for smooth execution.
• Ensure efficient utilization of ERP and retail planning systems for forecasting and inventory management.

Qualifications & Skills/What You Need

• 5–10 years of experience in merchandise planning, retail planning, inventory management, or OTB planning within fashion/lifestyle retail.
• MBA/PGDM in Retail, Fashion Management, Supply Chain, Finance, or related field preferred.
• Strong understanding of retail math, inventory planning, forecasting, and OTB management.
• Advanced knowledge of Excel, MIS, and retail planning/ERP systems.
• Strong analytical, commercial, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• High attention to detail and ability to work in a fast-paced retail environment.

Why HUFT?

• Be part of one of India's most loved pet care brands at a genuinely exciting phase of growth.
• Work in a fast-moving, high-ownership environment where your decisions visibly move the needle.
• Collaborate with a passionate team that takes pets seriously — and has fun doing it.
• Medical Insurance/Perks
• Competitive compensation with performance upside.