Manager, Planning (18 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.

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. This is an 18-month contract position.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• 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

Qualifications:

• Post secondary education in Business, Retail Management, or related field
• 5-7 years' experience in retail planning, with 3+ years in a leadership role
• Proven leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, ERP, and merchandise planning systems
• Adaptable, results-driven, and passionate about fashion and luxury retail

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 [email protected] 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.