Head Planning and Merchandising

As the Head of Product Planning at ENSEMBLE, your primary responsibility will be to develop and implement strategic merchandising planning and forecasting to maximize profitability and inventory efficiency across our 11-store network. Your key responsibilities will include: - Develop and implement long-term merchandising strategies based on market trends and sales data - Manage the annual and seasonal Open-to-Buy (OTB) plan for all stores - Create sales and inventory forecasts by region, city, store cluster, and door - Lead the development of a cluster-based strategy to tailor assortments and budgets - Define pricing, promotion, and markdown strategies on a national and regional level - Plan and manage inventory flows from central distribution to all stores - Implement a dynamic replenishment model based on real-time sales data - Lead intra-inventory transfers between stores to balance stock - Collaborate with Buying & Merchandising and Regional/Store Managers - Provide consolidated views of national performance and regional opportunities - Work with Logistics and Supply Chain for efficient inventory distribution Additionally, your success will be measured against key performance indicators including: 1. Financial Performance - Gross Margin Return on Investment (GMROI) - Gross Margin % - Sales vs. Plan 2. Inventory Productivity & Efficiency - Inventory Turnover - Weeks of Supply (WOS) - End-of-Season Stock % 3. Commercial Performance - Sell-Through Rate (%) - Sell-Thru % (Category/Store Level) - Markdown % / Discount Efficiency 4. Forecasting & Planning Accuracy - Open-to-Buy (OTB) Adherence - Sales Forecast Accuracy - Demand Forecasting Error 5. Range & Allocation Effectiveness - Performance by Store Cluster - Stock-to-Sales Ratio - Size Curve Optimization You will also be responsible for building and leading a high-performing planning and allocation team, tracking key performance indicators, and championing the use of advanced planning systems and BI tools to enhance forecasting accuracy and operational efficiency. Your role will be crucial in driving profitability and ensuring optimal inventory management at ENSEMBLE.,