Assistant Manager, Merchandise Planning

The Assistant Manager, Merchandise Planning provides financial guidance to Canada retail buying teams to meet or exceed sales and target KPIs, and assists with the development of seasonal plans and the analysis and reporting of sales, margin and inventory. The role sits within the Merchandising & Planning team and works closely with Buying & Allocations, Brand Marketing & Operations, Finance, Demand Planning and Warehouse teams. The post-holder makes recommendations and collaborates with buying teams to achieve forecast and plan expectations, with responsibilities varying slightly depending on the category and channel supported.

• Support Buying Teams in pre-season planning and in-season execution of category-level targets.
• Support Buying and Planning teams in analysing, reviewing and recommending strategies that maximise sales, margin, average selling price (ASP) and stock turns.
• Analyse category, product and article performance to communicate risks and opportunities against financial targets and drive retail excellence at stores.
• Liaise with Financial Planning and OMNI inventory teams to determine DC-to-store forecast, excess consumption and inventory trading.
• Build and maintain key reporting tools that support Buying and Planning teams in business analytics to improve results.
• Support the promotional planning process with Buying and Marketing teams, using historical analysis and current trends to recommend actions that achieve overall sales and margin targets.
• Maintain profitable inventory levels by monitoring and tracking receipts and inventory movements.
• Partner with Buying and Allocation on optimal store capacities and assortment blends to maximise store performance.
• Maintain inventory forecasts to reveal risks and opportunities to sales and margin targets.
• Adapt responsibilities to the specific category and channel supported.

• 1-3 years' experience in reporting and analysis.
• Prior experience creating and publishing reports.
• Proficiency with MS Office, business intelligence tools (Power BI) and various merchandising systems/applications, including database extracts.
• Advanced Excel skills, with a thorough understanding of pivot tables, formulas, formatting and similar functions.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to manage key stakeholder relationships.
• Good planning and organisation skills, resulting in the ability to meet critical deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills and a thorough understanding of retail KPIs and metrics.
• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to manipulate large amounts of data and create reporting tools from data.
• Ability to multi-task and problem-solve successfully.

• Inventory management experience.
• Experience in the retail or consumer products industry.

• Hybrid work policy requiring attendance in the office Monday through Thursday, with the flexibility to work remotely on Friday each week.
• In-office attendance is required even on Friday for work requiring a high degree of collaboration or an in-person presentation.
• The working language is English.

• Health and dental benefits, including prescription drug coverage and out-of-country coverage.
• Short and long-term disability cover.
• Basic life and AD&D insurance.
• Employee & Family Assistance Program.
• Retirement Savings Plan with employer match.
• Education assistance program for qualifying employees.
• Fitness reimbursement program for qualifying employees.
• Eligibility to earn an annual bonus based on both company and personal performance.
• Vacation time that increases with length of service.
• Service Awards and Service Time Off during milestone years.
• Paid bereavement leave.
• Parental leave top-up for eligible employees.

The company believes that embedding diversity, equity and inclusion into its culture and talent processes gives employees a sense of belonging and the brand a real competitive advantage.