Planning Manager (Sales Planning & Forecasting) | Retail | M&S | UAE

Job Description Roles & Responsibilities The Planning Manager is a pivotal role responsible for driving financial and commercial performance across all channels and product categories. Leading detailed sales planning and forecasting, the role integrates markdown strategies to optimize inventory and maximize full-price sell-through to deliver profitable growth. The position requires collaboration across multiple functions such as Merchandising, Buying, and Operations, ensuring the alignment of financial goals and sales strategies. Success in this role is measured by achieving key business KPIs, including sales performance, cash margins, markdown costs, and closing stock levels. What You Will Do: Business Plan and KPI Delivery Responsible for Planning the Annual Business Plan by Market and Business Unit Deliver Weekly WSSI for Clothing & Home, Food, and Total Business Execute Markdown Management Develop robust and forward-thinking Business Plans Ensure the achievement of Sales, Cash Margin, Markdown Cost, and Closing Stock as per Business Plan Sales Planning Lead accurate forecasting of Sales, Gross Profit, Gross Margin, and Markdown across all channels (Fashion, Food, Digital) and regions Develop sales plans by market, store, and category, broken down by month, week, and day Monitor forecast versus actual performance, identifying variances and implementing corrective actions Partner with Merchandising, Buying, and Operations to translate financial plans into actionable strategies Business Unit Sales Planning Accountable for Business Unit sales planning by season, incorporating new product strategies Partner with Merchandising, Buying, and Allocation to ensure alignment with product launches and promotions Monitor performance against plan, identifying risks, opportunities, and corrective actions Markdown Planning & Optimization Own the markdown strategy across all regions and channels Develop markdown phasing and price reduction plans to maximize sell-through Analyze the financial impact of markdowns and promotions, providing data-driven recommendations Collaborate with Retail and E-Commerce teams for accurate and timely markdown implementation Ensure Municipality Permission lists are submitted on time according to market regulations Reporting & Performance Tracking Prepare and deliver weekly sales and inventory reports by Business Unit, channel, and store Report on key metrics including Sales, Gross Profit, Gross Margin, Markdown, and Aging Stock Provide actionable insights and recommendations to senior leadership Ensure accurate and timely reporting aligned with business objectives Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with Merchandising and Buying on assortment investment decisions Partner with Allocation and Supply Chain to ensure stock flows support financial plans Collaborate with Retail and E-Commerce teams to align commercial performance with inventory strategy Present financial results, forecasts, risks, and opportunities to senior leadership Systems, Processes & Improvement Maintain and enhance planning tools, dashboards, and reporting systems Identify opportunities to improve processes and increase forecast accuracy Ensure standardized and automated reporting to drive efficiency Desired Candidate Profile Required Skills To Be Successful: Strategic Thinking & Commercial Acumen Analytical & Data-Driven Decision Making Collaboration & Influencing Skills Planning & Prioritization What Qualifies You For The Role: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Merchandising, or related field; Master’s preferred 5-8+ years of experience in retail planning, financial planning, or merchandising planning, ideally in fashion or multi-channel retail Strong expertise in forecasting Sales, Gross Profit, Gross Margin, Markdown, and Aging Stock Proficiency in planning and BI systems (Excel, PowerBI, Tableau, SAP, Oracle/JDA, WSSI) Employment Type Full Time Company Industry Retail Department / Functional Area Corporate PlanningConsultingStrategyM&A Keywords Business Planning ManagerUAE RetailDirector Of Demand PlanningForecasting ManagerCommercial Planning LeadHead Of Sales PlanningSenior Sales PlannerStrategic Planning Get real-time job updates only on our App