Al Futtaim
Planning Manager, Merchandise Planning
- Permanent
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Experience 5 - 10 yrs
Job expiry date: 30/11/2026
Job overview
Date posted
16/10/2026
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Salary
AED 20,000 - 30,000 per month
Compensation
Comprehensive package
Experience
5 - 10 yrs
Seniority
Manager
Qualification
Bachelors degree
Expiration date
30/11/2026
Job description
Weeks-of-supply targets, receipt flow and markdown timing shape most weeks in this Planning Manager role at Al-Futtaim Retail in Dubai. Behind them sits the strategic merchandise financial plan, which you direct and communicate in partnership with Buying and Operations. Six-month seasonal plans are built with Buying and Sales Operations, and the Planners who prepare them rely on your coaching when it comes time to present and defend them. Buy and reorder quantities need your sign-off before stock is committed. Once a month, the MBR brings forecasts and top-line results to the table, along with hindsight recaps and department overviews. Conceptual Assortment Plans cover design needs and customer choice counts, while inventory is balanced across channels so customers find what they want. Regular store visits keep you close to how merchandise is selling. Applicants should have a bachelor's degree in business administration or a related field, more than 5 years in retail planning, ideally 2 to 4 years leading a team, and strong skills in merchandise planning systems, forecasting and Excel analysis.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Shape and communicate the strategic merchandise financial plans for the business
- Align with Buying and Operations to grow sales and margin through forecasting, assortment and inventory strategies
- Build six-month Seasonal Merchandise Plans with Buying and Sales Operations in line with company financial goals
- Coach Planners as they develop, present and defend seasonal merchandise plans
- Authorise buy and reorder quantities to secure the right assortment for sales and margin
- Control receipts and inventory against targeted weeks-of-supply objectives
- Refine receipt flow with Merchandising to maximise gross margin
- Set markdown and promotional strategies that clear aged inventory
- Lead the Monthly Business Review process, including forecasting and reporting by Planners
- Report top-line results and forecasts at MBR meetings
- Develop Conceptual Assortment Plans covering design needs and customer choice counts
- Balance inventory across channels to meet customer needs
- Compile department overviews and monthly hindsight recaps
- Incorporate lessons learned into trend responsiveness and planning frameworks
- Mentor Planners on Weekly Unit Plans and Key Item programs
- Observe merchandise performance in stores and build relationships with store teams
- Review sales performance and take corrective action where needed
Experience & skills
- Possess a bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field
- Offer 5+ years of experience in a retail planning role
- Show team leadership experience, ideally 2 to 4 years
- Work proficiently with merchandise planning systems, forecasting and Excel analysis
- Convert data into actionable commercial insights
- Know the drivers of sales, margin and inventory performance
- Develop and manage a team of Planners
- Spend time in stores as needed to review merchandise performance