Associate Merchandise Planner

.Associate Merchandise Planner About the Role & Team You will use business insight and analytics to develop financial and unit plans for a category assortment base, accounting for trends within the Marketplace and consumer segment. Assist the Merchandise Planner in the development of high-level revenue benchmarks to drive key growth initiatives in the category and across channels. Responsible for evaluating the assortment, reacting to in-season performance, trends and findings, to advise and adjust future season assortment and inventory position. An associate merchandise planner will need to be flexible in terms of travel that might be vital (UK, European or international) and flexible hours may be required to meet business needs. You will be accountable to the Merchandiser Planner and Planning Manager, and you are required to be onsite 4 days a week. What You Will Do Be responsible for category financial plans for growth and profitability that align with key product strategies and initiatives for each channel An understanding of category product releases across all channels to mitigate financial gaps year on year and develop strategies for items to optimise efficiency and ensure inventory management of item or category Plan and manage the flow of goods via initial hit planning and flow management to improve turn for all channels and multiple distribution centres Leverage weekly business insights to understand item level performance to improve in season opportunities and minimise liability Manage and input retail category plans for AOP and forecast in the Merchandise Financial Planning System (MFP), making suggestions when needed