Merchandise Planner

*No Agencies Please*

Office based 3 days per week - Harwell, Oxford

Job Details:

As the Merchandise Planner you will manage and optimise intake and stock across channels, managing the planning and forecasting to bring the right stock into the business to grow sales and minimise risk.  You will work closely with product, sales, ecom and supply chain to ensure optimum stock intake into the company.  You will pro-actively provide actionable sales and stock insight into the business to allow timely trading decisions to optimise stock holding.  You will manage intake within sales and OTB targets agreed with the Senior Merchandise Planning Manager.

Day to Day Responsibilities:

Planning and Forecasting

• 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 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 and management

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 on the job training opportunities to understand beginning to end product process.
• Participate in calls and build relationships with appropriate US planning partners
• 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:

• 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
• 3+ years Planning experience in similar environment
• Experience in wholesale, retail and ecommerce
• Experience in Footwear or Apparel
• Experience of consumer fashion products
• Numerate and commercial
• Articulate communicator
• A level or equivalent
• Relevant Degree preferred

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