Merchandise Planning & Inventory Lead

SUMMARY:
A leading fashion retailer is seeking an experienced Merchandise Planning & Inventory Lead to join their team in Cape Town.

POSITION INFO:
This is a key leadership role responsible for driving merchandise planning, inventory optimisation, and commercial performance across multiple channels. The successful candidate will provide strategic insights to shape buying decisions, inventory strategies, and assortment planning while partnering with Merchandising, Sales, Commercial, Retail, and Finance teams to maximise sales, profitability, and inventory productivity. Key Responsibilities: • Lead merchandise planning and inventory management strategies across South Africa. • Manage and develop a team supporting Planning, Allocation, and Inventory Management activities. • Drive key inventory performance indicators including stock turns, end-of-period inventory, and ageing inventory targets. • Ensure effective assortment planning and store-level execution to support sales objectives. • Develop unit plans, item plans, and forecasts aligned to commercial targets. • Partner with Merchandising and Retail teams to optimise product assortment and sales performance. • Manage allocation strategies to maximise store productivity and product availability. • Analyse business performance and recommend actions to improve sales, margin, and inventory efficiency. • Lead seasonal investment reviews and support cross-functional decision-making. • Drive supply and demand alignment with inventory and supply planning teams. • Identify opportunities to reduce aged inventory and improve profitability. • Support continuous improvement of planning processes, tools, and reporting practices. Minimum Requirements: • Bachelor's Degree or equivalent qualification. • 8+ years' experience in Merchandise Planning and Inventory Management. • Proven experience within an apparel retail planning environment. • Strong forecasting, planning, and analytical capability. • Experience managing and developing teams. • Strong understanding of retail, assortment planning, and inventory optimisation. • Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills. • Strong commercial acumen with the ability to influence business decisions. • Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.