Manager, Planning (12 Month Contract)

Holt Renfrew offers you an inspiring, fashion-driven environment with opportunities to learn and grow. From our incredible partnerships with iconic luxury brands, to our commitments to corporate social responsibility, you will be inspired every day.

A job at Holt Renfrew offers a competitive total compensation, a generous employee discount, pension, and health & dental benefits, tuition assistance, and continuous learning and development.

Manager, Planning (12 month Contract)

The Planning Manager is responsible for overseeing and delivering divisional level multi-dimensional planning and inventory management processes. Leading a team, the role influences and guides the execution of planning, forecasting and inventory management initiatives in collaboration with the buying team to maximize profit.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage divisional merchandise plans that align with corporate strategy and deliver maximum full price sales and profit

• Interpret corporate direction and ideal metrics to create a robust multi-dimensional plan to achieve required results

• Build a strong partnership with merchant/buying/store counterparts, to collaborate on planning decisions and opportunities

• Interpret appropriate levels of end of season analysis to support optimizing planning and buying decisions

• Work cross functionally to ensure planning input is collaborative

• Identify and implement opportunities for inventory, buying and full price sell-through improvement

• Review and present plans and ensure cross-functional targets/requirements are shared & understood

• Manage in season performance through the reforecasting cycle to improve inventory productivity and drive profit

• Review and present forecasts across all relevant metrics and hierarchies to ensure a clear understanding of opportunities and risks

• Interpret appropriate levels of in-season analysis to drive inventory recommendations & decisions including managing divisional open to buy

• Collaborate with merchant/buying counterparts to follow through on opportunities to mitigate risk and drive sales, full price sell-through & profit

• Work with Planners, Assistant Planners and Allocation Analysts to manage inventory levels to maximize opportunity across the network

• Manage approach for Demand Forecasts/Auto-Replenishment models and oversee open to buy accordingly

• Manage markdown inventory and proposals on price reductions to drive profitable sell-through

• Collaborate with merchant/buying counterparts to review and manage markdown cadence and proposed markdowns

• Review markdown performance and manage recommendations for action to balance margin and off-price sell-through

• Review and present carryover proposals that ensure optimized inventory performance

• Forecast and follow-up on performance of promotional, marketing and other events

• Manage recommendations on event activity based on inventory performance analysis

• Propose sales and profit impacts and manage relevant inventory alignment and actions

• Review and present analysis on event results and interpret future opportunities

• Lead and develop a team of high performing Planners, Assistant Planners and Allocation Analysts

• Take the opportunity to participate in and champion projects

• Collaborate with peers across planning to ensure consistent, best practice processes, systems and reporting

• Prepare performance presentation data where requested

• Present findings and results to cross functional audiences as required

• Build effective partnerships with internal contacts e.g. merchants, buyers, stores, supply chain, finance, marketing

• Manage the development of processes, systems and reports

• Perform other duties as assigned

Ideal Characteristics

• Post-secondary degree in a related field or equivalent experience (MBA or Bachelor's degree in Business / Retail Management preferred)

• 5-7 years of post-university work experience, including 3+ years supervisory or management experience in a retail merchandise planning business unit

• Demonstrated leadership and influencing skills with the ability to get things done

• Excellent interpersonal skills; a team player who is able to act as both a leader and an individual contributor as required

• Confident and effective written & verbal communicator

• Adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity and change

• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and use of ERP and Merchandise Planning systems

• Passionate about fashion and luxury retailing

Holt Renfrew is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Our future success depends on the perspectives and contributions of all our employees -- their diverse backgrounds, abilities and experiences make our business stronger. If you are contacted for a job opportunity and require accommodation, please email careers@holtrenfrew.com and let us know so we can ensure you have an accessible candidate experience throughout the recruitment process. All requests are confidential and used only to meet candidate needs.