Assistant Planning Manager | Retail | M&S | UAE

Job Requisition ID: 173749 

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United A”rab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organisation to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate. 

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day.

• The Merchandise Planning Manager is integral to overseeing and directing the sales planning processes across different market segments and business units at varying time scales—annually, monthly, and daily. The role's focal point is to manage critical business KPIs, including sales, cash margin, markdown costs, and closing stocks. Additionally, this position involves controlling space and OTB (Open-to-Buy) planning for the business and ensuring the provision of comprehensive and accurate business reports. Collaboration with finance, retail, and buying teams is crucial for devising sales budgets and strategies, alongside managing markdown and promotion strategies effectively. Success in this role depends heavily on analytical capabilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills.

Sales Planning

• Plan Annual Business Plan by Market, Store, and BU at annual, monthly, and daily levels.
• Work closely with Finance and Retail teams to plan accurate Annual Sales Budget by Month and Market.
• Forecast Sales by Day for the total business.

KPI Management

• Manage all Key Business KPI's: Sales, Cash Margin, Markdown Cost, and Closing Stock.
• Deliver accurate Business Reports and provide analysis to drive key Business KPIs.

Space and OTB Planning

• Control Space and OTB Planning by Business Unit (BU) for the business.

Collaboration and Strategy

• Work with Buying and Retail teams to plan accurate sales by Week and BU.
• Manage End to End Process on Markdown/Promotion Strategy.
• Engage in ad hoc projects as assigned.

• Advanced MS Excel proficiency.
• Strong analytical and numeric skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in the FMCG/Food Retailing industry.

• University graduate with a minimum of 8 years experience in planning, with management experience from the FMCG/Food Retailing industry.
• Strong analytical capabilities paired with excellent business acumen.
• Proficiency in MS Office, especially Excel, and knowledge of SAP as an advantage.
• High attention to detail, numerate skills, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

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Before you click “apply”: Please read the job description carefully to ensure you can confidently demonstrate why this opportunity is right for you and take the time to put together a well-crafted and personalised CV to further boost your visibility. Our global Talent Acquisition team members are all assigned to specific businesses to ensure that we make the best matches between talent and opportunities. We not only consider the requisite compatibility of skills and behaviours, but also how candidates align with our Values of Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, and Excellence.

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