Merchandise Planner

Briscoe Group Limited; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Briscoe Group Limited, home of Briscoes Homeware, is seeking a Merchandise Planner for our Morningside office to optimise sales, margin and inventory. You will collaborate across Buyers, Marketing, Retail Operations, Finance and Supply Chain to translate insights into practical decisions.

The role focuses on building forward-looking plans, managing stock investment and driving trading accuracy to ensure products are available when and where customers need them.

Qualifications

• At least five years’ experience in merchandise planning or a similar commercial role.
• Tertiary qualification in business, supply chain or related field.
• Strong knowledge of forecasting, open-to-buy, inventory management and merchandise financial planning.
• Well-developed analytical and Excel skills.

Responsibilities

• Build 18-month rolling merchandise financial plans and category budgets.
• Develop sales, demand and inventory forecasts to guide decisions.
• Provide open-to-buy recommendations and analyse trading patterns.
• Manage allocations, replenishment, safety stock and stock redistribution.
• Partner with Buyers on assortment plans and promotions.
• Coordinate stock flow for major trade events and promotions.
• Monitor category performance and turn data into timely actions.

Skills

Merchandise planning

Forecasting

Open-to-buy

Inventory management

Excel

Stakeholder management

Education

Business / supply chain degree

Tools

Power Query

VBA

Job description

Are you an experienced merchandise planning professional who can turn data into clear commercial action?

We’re looking for a Merchandise Planner to join our Merchandise team at our Morningside Support Office and help optimise sales, margin and inventory performance within our iconic retail brand, Briscoes Homeware.

You’ll work closely with Buyers and teams across Marketing, Retail Operations, Finance and Supply Chain. You’ll build forward-looking merchandise plans, manage inventory investment and translate trading insights into practical decisions, helping ensure the right products are in the right place at the right time.

Key responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Build and maintain 18-month rolling merchandise financial plans and category budgets, balancing sales, margin and inventory investment.
• Develop sales, demand and inventory forecasts that guide buying decisions and support company targets.
• Provide open-to-buy recommendations and analyse trading patterns, seasonal trends, inventory risks and opportunities.
• Manage allocations, replenishment, safety stock and stock redistribution to maximise availability while minimising excess inventory and stockouts.
• Partner with Buyers to develop assortment plans, category strategies, promotional activity and markdown plans.
• Work cross-functionally to coordinate stock flow and deliver major trade events and regular promotional activity.
• Monitor category performance and turn data into timely actions that improve sales, margin and inventory efficiency.
• Support improvements to merchandise planning systems, processes and ways of working.

About you

You’ll be a commercially minded planner with strong analytical capability, sound retail judgement and the confidence to influence decisions. You enjoy balancing strategic planning with in-season trading and can communicate complex information clearly to a wide range of stakeholders.

You will ideally bring:

• At least five years’ experience in merchandise planning, inventory planning, category planning or a similar commercial role.
• A tertiary qualification in business, supply chain or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Strong knowledge of forecasting, open-to-buy, inventory management and merchandise financial planning.
• Well-developed analytical, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, supported by strong Excel capability.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder-management skills.
• A sound understanding of supply chain and stock-flow principles.
• A continuous-improvement mindset and experience supporting planning system or process change.

Experience with advanced Excel tools such as arrays, Power Query or VBA, overseas import programmes, or apparel and footwear would be advantageous, depending on the category.

About us

Briscoes Homeware and Rebel Sport are two of New Zeland’s most recognised retail brands. As an NZX-listed company and one of the country’s leading retailers, Briscoe Group is entering an exciting period of growth and transformation.

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, a Platinum Partner of First Foundation, and a supporter of Cure Kids.

You must be eligible to work in New Zealand or hold NZ Permanent Residency or Citizenship. All applications are treated in strictest confidence.