About the Company
is an omnichannel fashion & lifestyle destination that offers 1400+ fashion & beauty brands in the UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain & Qatar. Customers can shop the latest on-trend outfits, shoes, bags, beauty essentials and accessories from international brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Hugo, Marks & Spencer’s, Dune London, Charles & Keith, Aldo, Crocs, Birkenstock, Skechers, Levi’s, Nike, Adidas, Loreal, and Inglot amongst many more.
recently opened GCC’s first Phygital store at Dubai Hills Mall; an innovative tech-led space which combines the best of both online & offline shopping with online browsing & smart fitting rooms.
The Demand Planning Manager will own the day-to-day demand forecasting and planning operations for our fashion e-commerce business in the UAE/GCC, translating business strategy into accurate demand plans that drive inventory optimization, service levels, and profitability. The role bridges commercial objectives (sales growth, margin targets, new launches) with operational execution (procurement, inventory management, warehouse allocation), ensuring we have the right products available when and where customers want them.
Key Responsibilities1. Demand Forecasting & Statistical Modeling
- Develop and maintain accurate monthly/quarterly demand forecasts (12–18 month rolling horizon) by category, brand, channel (website, app, marketplace), and key SKUs using statistical analysis and historical data.
- Analyze sell-through, traffic, conversion, and promotional data to identify trends, seasonality patterns (Ramadan, Q4, Back-to-School, summer season), and demand drivers.
- Review and validate forecasts monthly; adjust for new product launches, discontinuations, markdowns, and market shifts.
- Monitor and report on Forecast Accuracy and Bias KPIs; recommend model refinements to improve forecast quality.
2. Sales & Inventory Planning Collaboration
- Consolidate inputs from Sales, Marketing, Merchandising, and Category teams (promotional calendars, campaigns, pricing changes, assortment plans) into consensus demand plans.
- Participate in weekly/bi-weekly demand review meetings with cross-functional teams; present forecast insights, risks, and recommended actions.
- Work closely with the buying and merchandising teams to align forecasts with Open-to-Buy (OTB) and assortment strategies; support inventory positioning and allocation decisions.
- Conduct sales performance and trend analysis to identify opportunities (fast-growing SKUs, emerging styles, size/color demand shifts) and risks (overstock, slow movers).
3. Cross-Functional Stakeholder Management
- Partner with Supply Chain/Procurement on demand plans to ensure timely and accurate POs, lead-time management, and supplier coordination.
- Support Finance with volume forecasts for revenue, gross margin, and cash-flow planning cycles.
- Engage with Customer Service and marketplace teams on stock availability, fulfillment rates, and customer demand signals.
4. Supporting Team Members
- Assist the supply planning and analyst team in maintaining forecast data, answering operational planning queries and troubleshooting issues.
- Participate in knowledge-sharing sessions and ad-hoc training on forecasting best practices, tools, and process improvements.
Education:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field. (Master's degree or APICS/CSCP certification is a plus.)
Experience:
- 5–7 years in demand planning, inventory planning, or merchandise planning roles, with at least 2–3 years in fashion retail, apparel, or fast-moving e-commerce.
- Hands-on experience with demand forecasting, statistical methods (trend analysis, seasonality, promotional uplift), and inventory optimization.
- Strong background in fashion/apparel industry dynamics: assortment planning, size/color demand curves, seasonality, product life-cycle management, and markdown strategy.
- Proven experience working in multi-channel retail (own website, app, marketplace) and GCC/Middle East markets strongly preferred.
- Experience using advanced planning tools (e.g., Kinaxis, Blue Yonder, SAP IBP, or similar) and BI platforms…
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