Retail Merchandising Planning Manager
Role Overview
A global consumer goods and retail company is seeking a Retail Merchandising Planning Manager to support the financial and merchandise planning strategy for its retail business in Japan.
This role works closely with Retail, Finance, and Demand Planning teams to ensure effective inventory management, strong financial performance, and alignment with overall commercial objectives. The position supports seasonal planning cycles, monitors in-season performance, and conducts post-season analysis to improve future planning and retail productivity.
Key Responsibilities
Merchandise Financial Planning & Seasonal Strategy
Support seasonal business planning processes and ensure alignment with retail strategies and financial targets.
Assist in developing category-level assortment and sales productivity plans based on historical performance and business insights.
Manage Open-to-Buy (OTB) planning across seasonal and monthly cycles in coordination with finance and demand planning teams.
Support planning for product allocation and store capacity to maximize retail efficiency.
Contribute to planning milestones related to product launches and market readiness.
In-Season Performance Monitoring
Track retail sales performance and inventory levels to identify risks and opportunities.
Adjust forecasts and OTB plans based on current sales trends and performance data.
Provide analytical reports, dashboards, and insights to support cross-functional decision-making.
Support initiatives aimed at improving inventory efficiency and sell-through rates.
Provide recommendations to improve store assortment and product allocation.
Post-Season Analysis & Process Improvement
Support company-wide inventory management and stock optimization initiatives.
Provide insights to support stock reduction and inventory control strategies.
Conduct post-season analysis to evaluate performance and identify improvements for future planning cycles.
Contribute to the ongoing improvement of merchandising planning processes and tools.
Performance Metrics
Success in this role may be measured by:
Retail sales growth and profitability
Inventory productivity and stock efficiency
Forecast accuracy and planning effectiveness
Alignment between merchandising strategy and financial objectives
Contribution to overall retail business performance
Candidate Requirements
Experience
Experience in merchandising planning, retail planning, demand planning, or financial planning within retail or consumer goods industries.
Strong experience in data analysis, forecasting, sales analysis, and inventory planning.
Experience managing Open-to-Buy (OTB) or merchandise financial planning is highly desirable.
Experience working cross-functionally with retail operations, finance, and supply chain teams.
Skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic retail environment.
Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Experience building dashboards or reports using analytics tools such as Power BI or similar platforms.
Effective communication and presentation skills.
High attention to detail combined with strong business understanding.
Education & Language
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Merchandising, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Native or fluent Japanese language skills required.
English proficiency is beneficial.
Role Value
This position offers the opportunity to contribute to the strategic planning and operational performance of a retail business in Japan. The role sits at the intersection of merchandising, finance, and supply chain, using data-driven insights to improve retail productivity and support commercial success.