Senior Merchandise Planner Opportunities

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts across brands

Birthday leave

Parental leave (26 weeks)

Free parking & EV charging

Friday WFH

Onsite gym & café

Wellbeing & development programs

Job summary

The Warehouse is seeking a Senior Merchandise Planner to lead a large merchandise portfolio and drive commercial performance across major NZ retail categories. You will own long-term planning, balance demand with inventory investment, and influence senior stakeholders.

You will coach Associate Merchandise Planners, develop capability, and partner across Buying, Supply Chain and Finance to deliver sustainable growth.

Qualifications

• Extensive merchandise planning experience within a retail environment.
• Strong forecasting, inventory and commercial planning capability.
• Advanced analytical and financial acumen.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Strong coaching and people development capability.
• A strategic mindset balanced with a hands-on approach to trade.
• A passion for developing talent and building team capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead category planning strategy and drive category growth.
• Build and review forecasts, inventories and profitability outcomes.
• Partner with Buying, Supply Chain, Stores and Finance to enable commercial decisions.
• Develop future planning talent and nurture high-performing team culture.

Skills

Merchandise planning

Forecasting

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Coaching & development

Strategic mindset

Talent development

Job description

• Full-time
• Contract Type: Permanent

Company Description

Lead strategy. Develop talent. Shape the future of retail.

Since 1982, The Warehouse has been part of the moments that shape Kiwi lives. From first school uniforms and first flats to first pay packets and family milestones, we’ve proudly been there for generations of New Zealanders.

That connection is at the heart of This Is Warehouse Country, celebrating the place The Warehouse holds in communities across Aotearoa. Today, we’re evolving our Merchandise Planning function and building a future-ready retail business designed to better serve Kiwi customers. This is an opportunity to join us during one of the most significant transformations in our history!

Job Description

You’ll be joining a planning function being intentionally redesigned to strengthen capability, improve decision-making and create clearer career pathways.This is a role for someone who thinks commercially, leads through influence and enjoys turning data, insights and strategy into measurable business results.

As a Senior Merchandise Planner,you’ll lead a significant merchandise portfolio and play a critical role in driving commercial performance across some of New Zealand’s largest retail categories.

You’ll own the long-term planning strategy for your area, balancing customer demand, inventory investment, profitability and risk. Working alongside Buying, Supply Chain, Finance and senior commercial leaders, you’ll translate strategy into clear actions that deliver sustainable growth.

You’ll also play an important leadership role within the planning team, coaching and developing Associate Merchandise Planners while helping create a high-performing planning culture.

Lead category planning strategy

• Develop and execute category and seasonal planning strategies
• Own sales, margin, inventory and profitability outcomes across your portfolio
• Build robust forecasts and stock investment plans that support commercial objectives
• Balance customer demand, inventory availability and working capital requirements
• Identify key risks and opportunities and proactively shape trading outcomes
• Lead weekly, monthly and seasonal performance reviews
• Turn complex analysis into clear recommendations for senior stakeholders
• Influence strategic decisions across ranging, promotions and inventory investment

Build high-performing partnerships

• Partner closely with Buying teams to deliver category growth strategies
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Allocation, Stores and Finance
• Build strong stakeholder relationships that enable informed, commercial decision making

Develop future planning talent

• Coach and support Associate Merchandise Planners
• Contribute to capability development across the Planning function
• Foster a culture of accountability, curiosity and continuous improvement

Qualifications

You’re an experienced merchandise planner who understands how strong planning decisions create better outcomes for customers and the business. You combine commercial thinking with analytical rigour, while bringing the confidence to challenge thinking, influence stakeholders and lead through periods of change.

You’ll bring:

• Extensive merchandise planning experience within a retail environment
• Strong forecasting, inventory and commercial planning capability
• Advanced analytical and financial acumen
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams
• Strong coaching and people development capability
• A strategic mindset balanced with a hands-on approach to trade
• A passion for developing talent and building team capability

Additional Information

These roles will shape the future state of Merchandise Planning at TWG. Not maintain it, not inherit it, but the chance to build it!

When you join us, we offer a range of benefits that work for you, your lifestyle, and your career, which include:

• Discounts across our brands
• Birthday leave and charity day off
• 26 weeks paid parental leave
• Free parking, EV charging at our North Shore support office
• We value collaboration, connection & flexibility – with 1 day (Friday) WFH
• Onsite gym and café at our Northcote support office (great views of the Waitemata and a decent lunch menu!)
• A range of wellbeing support and development opportunities

We are stepping into a new era that will be defined by momentum and ambition, and focused drive to deliver for our customers. Keen to join us?

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