Manager, Planning

Job description Summary:

We are looking for a seasoned Planning Manager to lead our Retail Merchandise Planning (MP) function and drive end-to-end pre-season and in-season planning excellence. This role holds regional visibility and plays a critical part in shaping our financial plans, informing sourcing decisions, and ensuring optimal inventory flow across channels. You will provide strategic direction to the Retail MP team, collaborate closely with regional and global partners, and ensure all planning activities support business growth, brand initiatives, and marketplace demand. If you thrive on data, insight generation, and cross-functional influence and have a passion for building strong, high-performing teams this role offers the opportunity to create meaningful business impact.

About the role:

• Demand Forecasting & Retail Item Planning: Develop the Retail Item Plan to determine PC9-level buys that support seasonal strategies, financial targets, and department/channel plans.

• Allocation & Replenishment Strategy: Build pre-season allocation flows aligned with sales and inventory plans, and adjust in-season inventory distribution by store based on performance and trend analysis.

• Final Line Assortment (FLA) Forecasting: Lead PC9-level forecasting to inform sourcing decisions, influence vendor placement, and initiate monthly capacity planning for upcoming seasons.

• Investment Review: Drive seasonal Investment Review discussions with cross-functional teams to align regional investment strategy and ensure optimal category/channel performance.

• In-Season Management: Optimize store-level inventory flow, track performance metrics, and recalibrate buys based on demand shifts and sell-through insights.

• Hindsighting: Conduct comprehensive post-season reviews to evaluate product, channel, and account performance, and provide insights to shape future season strategies.

• CORE Planning: Lead end-to-end seasonal planning of Core products in partnership with Sourcing, ensuring timely replenishment and inventory availability across channels.

• Leadership & Collaboration: Provide direction, coaching, and performance management to a high-calibre Merchandise Planning team.

• Partner with regional/global stakeholders (PD&S, GSP, Merchandising, Sourcing, Finance, and Retail Operations) to ensure alignment on plans, targets, and execution.

• Contribute to brand initiatives by delivering data-driven insights, scenario planning, and marketplace recommendations.

Job Location - Bangalore

About you:

• Experience:Min. 8+ years in merchandise planning, demand forecasting, or retail planning, with pan-India or multi-region scope.

• Team Leadership: Proven experience leading and developing high-performing planning teams and managing complex, high-volume planning cycles.

• Technical & Analytical Excellence: Strong command of data analytics, forecasting methodologies, inventory planning, and insight generation.

• Influencing & Communication: Excellent presentation, storytelling, and stakeholder-management skills with the ability to influence decisions across functions.

• Business & Process Orientation: Deep understanding of retail planning processes, product lifecycles, and in-season management with a focus on accuracy, discipline, and agility.