Senior Planner - Markham

About the role

The Senior Planner (Planner III) mentors the Merchandise Planning Team, projects future sales into key categories and optimises planning processes. The role covers range assortment and replenishment, distribution strategies and guidance and support to team members.

Key responsibilities

• Mentor the Merchandise Planning Team, providing guidance, coaching and support.
• Drive planning performance across categories through commercial decision-making, trading insight and data-led analysis.
• Manage and optimise a high-value category portfolio, ensuring sales, profitability and inventory objectives are met.
• Influence and implement the merchandise strategy, including category financial plans across sales, stock, margin, GP, closing stock and markdown.
• Project future sales and develop accurate forecasts; analyse sales, stock and trading performance to identify trends, opportunities and risks.
• Drive inventory management strategies to optimise stock productivity, availability and working capital investment.
• Manage OTB allowances across in-season and forward planning cycles.
• Develop category strategic, tactical and operational plans to meet sales, profit, inventory and stock turn targets.
• Manage range assortments and replenishment, and implement distribution and allocation strategies.
• Optimise planning processes, review weekly trading performance with the Buying team and partner with Buying, Sourcing, Supply Chain and Operations.
• Present category performance, forecasts and recommendations in trade and planning meetings, conduct regular store visits and foster collaboration across stakeholders.

Required profile

• Minimum completed National Diploma or Degree in Business Management, BCom or a related field, with majors in Finance, Statistics, Economics or Mathematics.
• At least 5 years of proven merchandise planning experience in a retail environment.
• Strong numerical, analytical and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Strong commercial acumen, trader mentality and proven inventory management capability.
• Experience in apparel, fashion or general merchandise retail is advantageous.

Required skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Analytical processes, market research and analysis, supplier management and global sourcing.
• Strategic eCommerce behaviours such as building networks, cultivating innovation, making quality decisions and managing complexity.