Senior Merchandise Planning Manager

*No Agencies Please*
Office based - 3 days per week - Harwell, Oxford
Job Details:
This is a leadership role to build team and processes across the planning department to best serve the business with the right stock at the right time and in the optimum quantity. You will improve existing ways of working and introduce new to position the company for current and future growth.
This is a pivotal role responsible for growing sales through excellent availability and minimise risk of overbuys and exposure to end of line, working within targets and KPIs proposed to and agreed with the Senior Operations and Product Director.
You will be the lead role in the department and work closely with US teams and internal product, sales, ecom and supply chain to improve processes, visibility, stock flow pro-actively providing actionable sales and stock insight into the business to allow timely trading decisions to optimise stock holding.
Day to Day Responsibilities:
Planning and Forecasting
Drive team to maintain forecast within range plan to best reflect demand and opportunity across all our sales channels, including wholesale, .com, marketplace and events
Propose and agree sales and stock targets by department and sub-category
Drive excellent availability across core and seasonal line within agreed KPIs
Work with Product to drive growth across category
Manage the purchasing critical path with involvement and interaction with our parent Ariat International to ensure all key dates hit
Ensure all POs are loaded in a timely manner
SAP set up, management and improvement
Trading
Create regular reporting to provide insight to the business
Liaise with Supply Chain Manager to ensure goods brought in timely manner
Liaise with Stock Co-ordinator to ensure best use of stock across business
Report on availability levels by channel
Manage and propose mark down pricing
Other
Progress own development, maximising opportunities to develop leadership skills and team standing within the company both UK and US
Build and drive appropriate relationships with appropriate US planning partners and other departments
Act as ambassador for the AE team and build relationships with US team as appropriate to further key accountabilities.
To assist in ad-hoc projects as required.
About You:
Proven leadership and change management skills
Strong Excel and Microsoft office
Use of SAP
Experience manipulating large data sets
Exceptional Organisational and time management skills
Strong ability to multitask and prioritise
Strong Teamwork
Analytical and Presentation skills
Customer Service skills
5+ years Planning experience in similar environment
Experience in wholesale, retail and ecommerce
Experience in Footwear or Apparel
Experience of consumer fashion products
Numerate and commercially astute
Articulate communicator
Ability to travel freely to the US as this role may be required to attend sales meetings every two years in the US.
Values:
Our values are ingrained in everything we do at Ariat and we believe this is what drives our success as individuals, as teams and, overall, as a Company.
Innovation - Be bold and adventurous and try new things. Constantly challenge how you can create change for the better. Learn from the past and don’t let it limit you.
Integrity - Do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. Say what you mean and do what you say. Build trust through consistency, dependability and honesty.
Quality - All work matters. Be proud of your work and strive to have it reflect your best and the best of Ariat.
Respect - Communicate openly, directly and constructively. Recognise different perspectives and listen with an open mind. Be thoughtful in how you show up and interact with others.
Teamwork - Create fun and joy and contribute to the Ariat family spirit. Focus on people’s strengths. Learn from others and share your own knowledge and experience. Ask for help when you need it and offer to help when others may need it.
Benefits:
Private Medical Insurance
Life Assurance
Critical Illness Cover
Employee Assistance Programme
Health & Wellbeing Points Scheme
Cycle to Work Scheme
Company Bonus Scheme
Employee Purchase Scheme
Holiday Purchase Scheme
Employee Referral Programme
Birthday day off
Bring your dog to work scheme
Employee Volunteering policy
Working from a different location policy
Free onsite Parking including 2 electric charging points

Employment type
Full-Time

Work arrangement
No