Merchandise Planner

INSPIRE | EXHILARATE | DELIGHT

For over seven decades, Chalhoub Group has been a partner and creator of luxury experiences in the Middle East. In its pursuit to excel as a hybrid luxury retailer, the Group has curated a portfolio of over 10 owned brands and strengthened its distribution and marketing expertise for over 400 international names across luxury fashion, beauty, jewellery, watches, eyewear, and art de vivre categories.

Every step at Chalhoub Group is taken to build a future where luxury dreams become reality — bridging cultures and crafting memorable experiences for our consumers. Be it by constantly reinventing itself, committing to innovation, or embracing new technologies, the Group is shaping the future of luxury retail. It delivers seamless omnichannel experiences across more than 950 stores, online platforms, and mobile apps. Driving this innovation journey is The Greenhouse — the Group’s innovation hub, incubator, and accelerator for startups and emerging businesses, regionally and globally.

Chalhoub Group fosters a people-at-heart culture rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a workplace catalysed by forward thinking and future-proofing. Today, it brings together over 16,000 talented professionals across eight countries in the Middle East, with a presence in LATAM. Their collective efforts have earned the Group the Great Place to Work certification in several markets.

Sustainability is at the core of the Group’s strategy, guided by a clear commitment to people, partners, and the planet. Chalhoub Group is proud to be a member of the United Nations Global Compact, a signatory of the Women’s Empowerment Principles, and to have pledged to reach Net Zero by 2040.

What You'll Be Doing

The Merchandise Planner will be responsible for driving sales and profitability through effective inventory management, strong planning and forecasting. This role requires a strong understanding of data analytics, market trends, consumer behaviour, highly analytical with strong attention to detail.

Product Planning

• Support the development of sales plans and OTB (Open to Buy) by collaborating with Buying, Finance, Retail, and Ecommerce teams. Utilize sales data, market conditions, and supplier inputs to help inform merchandise strategies and support profitable decision-making.
• Own and maintaining Monthly Sales and Stock Intake (MSSI) plans to ensure stock levels are optimized, helping to maximize sales and margin
• Own forecasting and re-forecasting efforts by analysing sales performance and market trends, assisting in adjusting plans to align with current business conditions.
• Conduct margin analysis under supervision to identify potential profitability improvements and highlight risks, contributing to a proactive approach to inventory management.
• Collaborate with Buying and Trade teams to execute seasonal markdown strategies, aiming to maximize sales and gross margin while managing inventory levels, considering stock aging and quality.
• Monitor and manage OTB to assist in effective budget utilization and inventory control, identifying potential risks and opportunities for seasonal trading actions.
• Support inventory management efforts by ensuring accurate stock tracking and alignment with sales and stock forecasts, assisting in allocation and replenishment processes to maintain healthy stock levels across various business channels.
• Identify and address aging stock, working to improve liquidation processes and solve inventory discrepancies to optimize stock levels.
• Conduct range planning analysis for Buying by channel, region, or store, ensuring alignment with merchandise strategy and consumer demand, and suggesting improvements for revenue and profitability optimization.
• Support adherence to the critical path by tracking key timelines and milestones, from OTB and sales plans to end-of-season actions.
• Conduct trade analysis to understand market trends and consumer preferences, communicating potential sales or stock risks and opportunities to the wider team.
• Highlight risks and opportunities on planned sales, gross margin, and inventory based on supply or demand gaps, suggesting possible solutions and actions.
• Re-planning business in-season based on performance updates and support presentations to management with recommendations during review cycles.
• Provide support to the Buying team by helping develop category assortment plans by brand, channel, and region.
  
  

Performance Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

• Monitor key planning KPIs, such as Full Price Sell-Through, DOI (Days of Inventory), OTIF (On-Time In-Full), GM and allocation efficiency.
  
  

Team Leadership and Development

• Supervise and junior planners and Allocators, ensuring team alignment with organizational objectives +mentor and develop team members, fostering a culture of collaboration
  
  

What You’ll Need To Succeed

• 2+ years of experience in merchandise and supply planning, with a strong background in retail, beauty, fashion, or FMCG industries.
• Expertise in planning tools, such as Blue Yonder, SAP, or equivalent systems.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills for inventory and supply optimization.
• Deep understanding of OTB planning, inventory management principles, and markdown strategies.
  
  

What We Can Offer You

With us, you will turn your aspirations into reality. We will help shape your journey through enriching experiences, learning and development opportunities and exposure to different assignments within your role or through internal mobility. Our Group offers diverse career paths for those who are extraordinary, every day.

We recognise the value that you bring, and we strive to provide a competitive benefits package which includes health care, child education contribution, remote and flexible working policies as well as exclusive employee discounts.

We Invite All Applicants to Apply

It Takes Diversity Of Thought, Culture, Background, Differing Abilities and Perspectives to truly Inspire, Exhilarate and Delight our customers. At Chalhoub Group, we are committed to inclusion and diversity.

We welcome all applicants to apply and be part of our exciting future. We ensure equal opportunity for all our applicants without regard to gender, age, race, religion, national origin or disability status.