Assistant Merchandise Planning Manager | Retail | Clothing and Accessories | UAE
Job Requisition : 175169
Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands.
Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.
By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity;
Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day
The Assistant Planning Manager supports the Planning function in developing accurate financial, sales, and inventory plans across all channels and markets. This role assists in forecasting sales, margin, markdown, and inventory requirements, enabling strong business performance and efficient stock management. The Assistant Planning Manager partners closely with Merchandising, Allocation, Retail, and Supply Chain teams to ensure plans are aligned and executed accurately.
What you will do:Description of Accountability:
- Responsible for Planning Annual Business Plan by Market and BU
- Deliver Weekly WSSI for C&H, Food and Total Business
- Execute Markdown Management
- Support the development of seasonal and annual sales plans by market, store, category, and channel (Retail, E-Commerce, Omnichannel).
- Assist in building weekly, monthly, and seasonal sales forecasts, incorporating past performance, trends, and business drivers.
- Prepare financial projections for Gross Profit, Gross Margin, Markdown, and Inventory.
- Track performance vs. plan and highlight risks or opportunities
- Support Planning Manager in Business Unit sales planning by season, incorporating new product strategies, forward‑looking initiatives, and potential sales gaps from previous year.
- Monitor performance against plan, identifying risks, opportunities, and corrective actions to optimize seasonal results.
- Support markdown planning, price phasing, and promotional analysis.
- Track sell‑through and aging stock to recommend timely markdown actions.
- Partner with Merchandising to ensure markdown strategy protects margin while achieving sell‑through targets
- Prepare weekly and monthly business performance reports including sales, margin, stock, and KPIs.
- Analyze product, category, and store performance to support strategic decisions.
- Identify business risks and provide insight‑driven recommendations
- Support Finance in validating forecasts and financial submissions.
- Work with Buying and Merchandising team on Weekly BU and Dept level planning.
- Maintain accurate planning data and product hierarchies in Reporting systems.
- Develop templates, dashboards, and presentations for planning reviews.
- Analytical thinking & attention to detail
- Strong financial and commercial acumen
- Data interpretation & problem‑solving
- Collaboration & cross‑functional alignment
- Proactive decision making
- Ability to manage multiple priorities
- Advanced Excel & reporting skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Retail Management, or related field.
- 3–5 years of experience in merchandise planning
, financial planning
, or retail analysis
, preferably in fashion or multi‑category retail. - Strong analytical and numerical skills, proficient in Excel and reporting tools.
- Experience with planning systems (e.g., JDA, Power BI, Tableau, SAP, or similar).
- Strong communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to work under pressure in a fast‑paced retail environment
Al-Futtaim Retail has established itself as one of the leaders in Retail across the Middle East,…
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