Merchandise Planning Manager - Fashion Retail (Cape Town | Permanent)

We are looking for a commercially minded planning professional with extensive apparel retail experience who understands the full merchandise planning cycle and can successfully balance sales, inventory, margin and customer demand.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead merchandise planning and inventory management across the business.
• Drive sales, stock, margin and inventory performance against agreed targets.
• Develop accurate forecasts and merchandise plans to support seasonal and in-season trading.
• Partner with Buying/Merchandise teams to develop commercially relevant assortments.
• Manage stock levels, allocations and replenishment to maximise availability and store productivity.
• Monitor inventory KPIs including stock turn, ageing inventory and closing stock.
• Analyse weekly, monthly and seasonal performance and recommend corrective actions.
• Identify opportunities and risks relating to sales, stock, promotions and markdowns.
• Conduct hindsight analysis to improve future seasonal buys and forecasts.
• Work closely with Finance, Commercial, Retail and other cross-functional stakeholders.
• Lead, mentor and develop the planning team.

Desired Experience & Qualification

• Bachelors degree or equivalent qualification.
• Must have min 4-5 years experience as a Merchandise Planning Manager
• Minimum 8 years merchandise planning and inventory management experience.
• Strong apparel/fashion retail planning experience is essential.
• Demonstrated expertise in forecasting, merchandise planning and inventory management.
• Proven experience leading and developing a team.
• Strong commercial and analytical capability.
• Experience working across multiple functions within a fast-paced retail environment.

Key Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen and analytical thinking.
• Excellent planning and organisational ability.
• Confident communicator with strong influencing skills.
• Assertive and comfortable challenging where necessary.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving ability.
• Collaborative approach with the ability to work across multiple stakeholders.
• Growth mindset and ability to adapt quickly.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities.

This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished fashion merchandise planning professional looking to join a well-established international brand and play an influential role in driving merchandise and inventory performance across the South African market.

Interested?

Please forward your CV to