Senior Planner

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Financial Accountability Trading the Departments to Maximise Profit § Achievement of the financial parameters and targets across appropriate categories and generating a sizeable sales performance for the business § Respond to sales and external market activity to maximise sale opportunities and minimise potential risks § Maximise profit and minimise risk through stock management and realistic sales and profit forecasts with regular review and appropriate action § Monitor and review product balances, proactively question future orders placed where sales patterns vary to the original framework, ensuring the trend investment and delivery will maximise sales and profit § Review and drive commercial calendar with Brand Merchandiser for timely, market specific trading action and to ensure this calendar is being appropriately understood and reflected in the WSSIs and range building process by close working and collaboration with the Australian Planners and Buyers § Initiate change to the planning processes/systems to ensure effective ways of working that improve profit performance § Generate ideas to improve sales and profit performance § Drive margin management through the effective control of markdowns and promotional activity in line with departmental budgets and summarising overall impact to business § End to end management of aged stock § Manage terminal stock targets driving educated trading decisions to effectively achieve maximum sell through, and minimise profit loss Planning a Strategic Framework § Manage branch merchandising and space planning end to end to maximise return on space and improve sell through while meeting store, concession, online, omni-channel, and climatic requirements § Ecommerce and Omni-channel focus to maximise the trading and to optimise and drive growth wherever the customer decides to shop § Effective Channel reporting with an omni-channel focus § Budget and Reforecast stores and all channels Sales and Profit targets in conjunction with the Melbourne product plan and the Head of Operations. Influence and align the budgets and replans/reforecasts to ensure all areas have the same targets § Support Melbourne planning team when needed on Department planning work i.e. Budgeting, WSSI reforecasting, quantification, freight mode management. This may require a Top Down view of the Planning process and also some hands-on planning in selected departments, whilst also collaborating and supporting the working of the greater planning team to balance top down and bottom up plans for best Sales. Profit, and Inventory efficiency § Work with the Brand Merchandiser to regularly assess impact to the forward planning framework based on current market and key fashion trend direction § End of month/post season, work with the Brand Merchandiser to identify opportunities, based on lessons learnt, to optimise the departmental strategy and provide analytics to support correct planning direction Team Management and Development § Effectively build relationships with key stakeholders in Australia including the Planning Manager and Planners and Buyers with clear and timely communication on strategies, deadlines, and work-in-progress § Maximise team performance through effective people management to drive efficiency and profitability § Provide regular ongoing feedback in addition to probationary and annual performance reviews § Provide clear communication, guidance and coaching when required to all team members in order that the team and personal achievements are met § Translate the Forever New vision into clear goals and objectives for direct reports and teams § Consistently strive to improve upon and build mutually effective relationships with key stakeholders § Pre-empt the need for and manage change, leading teams through the process § Develop the skills of the team by identifying individual training needs by motivating and encouraging effective teamwork § Develop individuals to secure succession planning initiatives to enable subordinates in the team to succeed and grow into future management positions § Maintain Best Practice consultancy across all divisions on accountable tasks § Manage planning projects or form part of a steering group/project team to deliver project objectives Range Management § With the Australian team, construct a well-balanced range framework which offers the right product mix of categories and styles. e.g. casual/formal, print/plain, colour, and Fabric to match the customers fashion requirements, based on history, current performance, and future trends being led from the buying/design team § Support with the high-level financials and range framework which must be presented at the beginning of order sign off and summarised at the completion § Support in sign off process, management of open to buy, margin and flexibility within season § Monitor and ensure a clear and sensible price architecture which drives maximum sales and profit for the business. Ensure this is communicated and aligned with the teams and reflected in the outcomes of the range builds and on orders being generated § Rate of sales to be reviewed and monitored to ensure depth and width is applied to any future range build process § Monitor and analyse current size performance and understand category/product type history to maximise product sell through. Ensure sizing is applied to any future range build process and open orders that can still be changed § Working closely with Australian team to ensure assortments deliver innovation, speed to market and calculated risks in new trends § Ensure range reflects climate needs of the market and any regional requirements § Provide business summaries of high-level reporting to highlight risks to RSA management and Planning Manager as required and on request Stock Optimisation Supply and Store § Optimise store performance by working with your Planning team to ensure stock is allocated to stores based on the philosophy of right store, right stock, right time. Ensure the Grading and Omni-channel requirements are being managed to guide allocation, replenishment, and optimized fulfilment § Oversee the stock build of new stores in a manner that maximises store profit potential and space § Obtain feedback from store teams with respect to product and store performance § Consistently liaise with the Australian team and with shipping and logistics, monitoring commitment and intake, controlling stock flow based on realistic forward projections at the required level for the business § Setting of new store product plans based on financial targets and store demographics in line with new store best practice § Oversee stock flow to the warehouse and to stores - pre-empting peak sales trend i.e. Events, Xmas, school holidays etc. § Manage Allocation Analysts to ensure optimum stock levels by channel/store to match the needs of the customer whilst maximising profits and product sell through § Manage the flow of newness into the business to ensure new products are being received ongoing and peaks are manageable, and launches are cohesive § Liaise with the warehouse to ensure all stock is picked and allocated to store in line with the critical path, agreed KPIs and release schedules § Branch Merchandising - Regular in-season reviews of profit return versus space invested and LFL sales performance to optimise store or category current and forecasted performance § Complete regular store visits, in conjunction with the retail, brand colleagues, and management, to correct, learn, and optimise the business as required § Mange key events and items to ensure deliveries and deadlines are met, e.g. window launches, promotions and editorial § Liaising with Retail Managers and Online regarding stock levels and queries to optimise trade Workplace Health & Safety § Comply with the Companys WHS policies and procedures § Take reasonable care for personal safety and that of other individuals within the workplace § Report any hazardous conditions, near misses, incidents and injuries in a timely manner and in accordance with relevant procedures § Participate in meetings, training and other workplace health and safety activities § Do not wilfully place at risk the health or safety of any individual in the work place § Do not wilfully or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interest of workplace health and safety or welfare § Cooperate with the Company in relation to activities taken to comply with WHS legislation and WHS standards QUALIFICATIONS § Grade 12 § A relevant business-related tertiary degree qualification (in Retail/Fashion advantageous) § At Least 5 years relevant retail experience in a Senior Planning role within the fashion industry SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE § Strong financial and commercial business acumen § Proven track record of effective stock management in a fashion business § Ability to coach, develop and lead a team § Strong analytical skills § To lead by example and provide support and mentoring to the Planning team § Effective negotiation and influencing skills § Effective planning and organisational skills § Ability to work under pressure, working to tight deadlines § Knowledge of the High Street competitors and able to form educated opinions to effect commercial decisions § A high attention to detail § Ability to manage key relationships effectively to deliver business strategy § Understands the customer and responds effectively to their needs § Have an understanding of all critical path elements and their impact on delivery § Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively as part of a team § Confident and engaging communicator with the ability to deliver presentations and influence key stakeholders § Strong Computer literacy in Microsoft Office (Advanced Excel) BEHAVIOURS AND ATTITUDE § Knows, accepts and adheres to all policies, procedures, guidelines and standards § Results driven and ability to multitask § Passion: A love for fashion and enthusiasm for Forever New § Maturity in demanding situations § A strong work ethic § Big picture thinking; contribute to team and business objectives § Professional presentation § Resourceful and resilient § Develop & encourage others to deliver results § Use personal initiative and be creative to grow the business § Honesty and integrity § Display a can do attitude