Job Description
Head of Planning
Dubai, UAE, Fashion Retail
Role Overview
We are seeking a highly commercial Head of Planning to lead merchandise, range, assortment and trading planning for a large scale private label fashion retail business based in Dubai.
This is a senior retail leadership role sitting at the heart of the commercial function, partnering closely with Buying, Merchandising, Design, Sourcing, Retail Operations and Ecommerce to build profitable ranges, manage stock productivity and drive sales performance.
The successful candidate must bring strong private label fashion retail planning experience gained in a large scale own brand fashion business, ideally from the UK, Europe, South Africa, Australia or USA. This role is not suitable for candidates from pure franchise retail, small format retail or financial planning backgrounds. They must have operated across revenue scale in excess of €300 million.
Key Responsibilities
Commercial Planning and Trading Strategy
Lead the commercial planning process across fashion categories, ensuring product, range, stock and trading plans are aligned to customer demand, brand positioning and growth targets.
Own the planning rhythm across pre season, in season and end of season trading.
Translate business strategy into clear category, department and store level commercial plans.
Partner with Buying and Merchandising to shape range architecture, option count, depth, price positioning, promotional strategy and markdown approach.
Provide senior leadership with clear recommendations based on sales performance, customer behaviour, stock position, market trends and trading opportunities.
Range and Assortment Planning
Lead the planning of commercially balanced ranges across departments, categories and price architecture.
Ensure assortments reflect customer segmentation, store grading, regional differences, channel mix and seasonal demand.
Challenge range decisions where width, depth, pricing, margin, phasing or availability do not support the commercial plan.
Drive stronger alignment between product vision, customer need, sales targets and stock investment.
Ensure the business has the right product, in the right quantities, in the right locations and at the right time.
In Season Trade Management
Lead weekly and monthly trade reviews across sales, margin, sell through, stock cover, availability, markdowns and terminal stock.
Identify risks and opportunities early and drive action across rebuys, cancellations, stock reallocation, markdown timing, promotions and exit plans.
Work closely with Retail Operations and Ecommerce to maximise performance across stores and digital channels.
Improve trading discipline, forecast accuracy and decision making across the commercial teams.
Turn data into clear actions that improve sales, margin and stock productivity.
Stock and Inventory Productivity
Own the commercial stock planning agenda across the business.
Improve stock turn, availability, sell through, markdown efficiency and aged stock performance.
Ensure intake flow, open to buy, commitment and stock cover are actively managed.
Partner with Sourcing and Supply Chain to improve delivery phasing, lead time planning and stock flow.
Balance availability and growth ambition with disciplined stock control.
Cross Functional Leadership
Act as a key commercial partner to Buying, Merchandising, Design, Retail Operations, Ecommerce, Supply Chain and Finance.
Create a planning culture that is customer led, commercially sharp, data driven and action focused.
Lead, develop and structure a high performing planning team.
Set clear KPIs, reporting rhythms and decision making frameworks.
Bring mature market private label fashion planning best practice into a Dubai based retail environment.
Required Experience
The successful candidate must have:
Substantial experience in retail fashion planning, merchandise planning, assortment planning, category planning or commercial planning within a private label fashion brand or retailer.
Strong fashion retail planning experience from a mature, high volume retail market, ideally the UK, Europe, South Africa, Australia or USA.
Experience in a large scale own brand fashion business, not franchise led and not small format.
Planning accountability across a business, region, division or category portfolio exceeding €300 million in revenue.
Strong understanding of private label fashion product lifecycles, range architecture, option planning, depth planning, intake, sell through, markdown, replenishment and stock management.
Experience across multi category fashion, ideally including womenswear, menswear, kidswear, footwear, accessories or lifestyle categories.
Strong ability to influence senior stakeholders and challenge commercial decisions with clear trading logic.
Proven ability to lead planning teams and improve process, accuracy, accountability and commercial outcomes.
International or multi market retail experience would be highly advantageous.
Exclusions
Candidates from pure franchise retail backgrounds will not be suitable.
Candidates from small format retail environments will not be suitable.
Candidates without experience in a mature, high volume private label fashion retail market such as the UK, Europe, South Africa, Australia or USA will not be suitable.
Candidates without exposure to significant revenue scale, above €300 million, will not be suitable.
Package total max 140,000 Euro level Tax Free + bonus, medical, visa
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