We are hiring | Assistant Manager - Category NPT (Ethnic & Kids)

Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited; Mumbai; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited in Mumbai seeks a seasoned Merchandising professional to drive category buying, inventory management, and strategic brand partnerships. You will develop seasonal assortments, plan launches, and optimize stock flow across stores and channels.

The role requires strong analytics, cross-functional collaboration with Marketing, VM, and Supply Chain, and a track record of delivering revenue and margin targets within a fast-paced fashion retail environment.

Responsibilities

• Deliver budgeted NSV, gross margin, and category profitability targets.
• Develop and execute annual Joint Business Plans (JBP) with partner brands.
• Create seasonal buy plans and assortment strategies for assigned categories.
• Identify growth opportunities through category analysis, pricing, and product mix optimization.
• Monitor business performance and implement corrective actions to achieve sales and margin objectives.
• Drive inventory productivity through Sell Through Rate management and working capital optimization.
• Ensure timely merchandise availability across stores through planning and replenishment.
• Monitor stock health, aging, stock cover, and markdowns.
• Coordinate with DC, Supply Chain, and Store Ops for product flow and availability.
• Ensure optimum inventory allocation and replenishment based on sales trends.
• Plan and execute merchandise requirements for New Store Openings and seasonal launches.
• Finalize brands and launches in coordination with stakeholders; drive Pantaloons initiatives.
• Collaborate with Marketing, VM, Design, Sourcing, and Sales for campaigns and launches.

Skills

Category Buying & Merchandising

Retail Analytics & Business Planning

Inventory Management & Replenishment

Job description

Role & responsibilities

1. Revenue & Profitability

• Deliver budgeted Net Sales Value (NSV), gross margin, and category profitability targets.
• Develop and execute annual Joint Business Plans (JBP) with partner brands.
• Create seasonal buy plans and assortment strategies for assigned categories.
• Identify growth opportunities through category analysis, pricing, and product mix optimization.
• Monitor business performance and implement corrective actions to achieve sales and margin objectives.

2. Merchandise & Inventory Management

• Drive inventory productivity through effective Sell Through Rate (STR) management and working capital optimization.
• Ensure timely merchandise availability across stores through effective planning and replenishment.
• Monitor stock health, inventory ageing, stock cover, and markdown requirements.
• Coordinate with Distribution Centre (DC), Supply Chain, and Store Operations teams for seamless product flow and availability.
• Ensure optimum inventory allocation and replenishment based on sales trends and store requirements.

3. Buying & Assortment Planning

• Analyze historical sales data, consumer buying behavior, and market insights to develop category strategies.
• Study fashion trends, customer preferences, and competitive benchmarks to identify business opportunities.
• Collaborate with Design, Sourcing, and Product Development teams to build commercially strong assortments.
• Ensure comprehensive trend coverage and the right product mix across brands and categories.
• Leverage analytics and market intelligence to enhance buying effectiveness and improve Hit Article Mix (HAM).

4. Brand & Vendor Management

• Build strong relationships with brand partners and vendors to drive business growth.
• Conduct periodic business reviews with brands to monitor performance and identify opportunities.
• Attend trade shows, market visits, and industry events to identify emerging trends and new brands.
• Ensure timely closure of account reconciliations and coordination for vendor payments.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Sales teams to understand customer demand and execute sales-driving initiatives.
• Coordinate with Operations teams for order fulfillment, returns to vendor (RTV), and inventory management.
• Partner with Supply Chain teams to ensure timely deliveries and resolve operational discrepancies.
• Collaborate with Visual Merchandising (VM) teams for creation and implementation of Standard Display Modules (SDM).
• Support Marketing teams for seasonal campaigns, product launches, and go-to-market (GTM) initiatives.

6. New Store Openings & Seasonal Launches

• Plan and execute merchandise requirements for New Store Openings (NSO).
• Finalize key brands, collections, and launch highlights in coordination with stakeholders.
• Ensure timely inwarding, dispatch, and availability of launch merchandise.
• Drive exclusive merchandise planning and launch initiatives for Pantaloons.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Sales teams to ensure successful seasonal and brand launches.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Category Buying & Merchandising
• Retail Analytics & Business Planning
• Inventory Management & Replenishment