Planning & Allocation Manager

Primary Purpose of Role

The Planning & Allocation Manager is responsible for:

• Team leadership of the allocation team and selected planning roles in the offshore location in conjunction with the Australian planning team leadership
• Leading the allocation processes & procedures to ensure timely stock delivery to stores and maintaining inventory KPI's
• Providing leadership and strategy over merchandise and assortment plans where assigned to support buying and inventory KPI's
• Budgeting, forecasting activities and providing financial analysis to ensure that financial goals and sales targets are met.
• Category and product leadership oversight to support buy quantities.

Key Skills Qualifications & Experience

Prerequisite Skills:

• In depth knowledge of footwear or fashion retailing, supply principles and retail store administration procedures
• High commercial awareness in Merchandising
• Ability to observe, interpret and act upon trends in customer behaviour.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite: Outlook, Word, Excel (Advanced knowledge of databases and spread sheets)
• Excellent attention to detail with an analytical mind
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to be flexible and adaptable
• Great interpersonal skills and a team- focused attitude for getting the job done
• Excellent communication skills

Education/Qualifications/Memberships:

• Fashion Degree or similar an advantage

Preferred Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years' experience as a senior planner or Planning Manager
• Previous team leadership experience (Planning & Allocation)
• Previous experience in the retail environment and footwear experience
• Previous experience with product analysis and conducting consumer research.
• In depth understanding of inventory management within a retail environment

Key Result Areas and Key Responsibilities

A. Financial Performance

• Provide leadership to support budget creation and forecasting for sales, margin and inventory
• Contribute to the weekly achievement of the sales and gross profit targets in designated area
• Provide commercial analysis to inform and confirm buying decisions.

B. Operational Excellence

• Lead post the post seasonal review process including to develop action plans to address missed opportunities and future strategies.
• Investigate and provide analysis of business and financial challenges, trends and improvement opportunities.
• Provide leadership to manage the buy-plan seasonally to ensure that correct flow of options is placed and quantified.
• Lead inventory control strategies which includes monitoring and advising on stocks to maximise productivity.
• Manage the delivery of robust and consistent reporting for store and brand performance and aged stock
• Supplier analysis as required.
• Additional ad hoc duties as required.

C. Brand Equity

• Manage the entire product lifecycle, advising on allocation methods to improve in-stock position and replenishment of product.
• Lead appropriate actions for the team including markdowns, regroups, and reorders and propose strategies.
• Analyse trends to ensure accurate forecasts to supplier.
• Manage aged stock strategies.
• Review and report on markdowns and ensure these are managed to budget.
• Assist with analysis and reporting to influence decisions and overall business performance.

D. Team Management

• Foster an environment of teamwork through facilitation of regular Team Meetings, 1:1s with direct reports, celebrating Team and individual wins and promoting other opportunities for collaboration.
• Provide ongoing professional development of Team Members including coaching, training and mentoring to ensure the team have up to date knowledge and skills to achieve financial objectives.
• Conflict management/resolution and performance management as required.