Job Description

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Position Purpose and Summary
The Lead Planning role is responsible for driving category-level planning strategies, inventory budgeting, and sales-indent planning to maximize profitability and ensure timely merchandise availability. This position oversees model stock creation, institutionalizes planning processes, and leads a team to deliver accurate projections, efficient workflows, and proactive interventions across merchandising and supply chain functions.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Formulate group Category
Formulate store & Central buffer ordering strategy to mitigate risks and categories to maximize sales & profitability.
Build strong cross functional coordination to ensure accurate sales, Indent plans and maximum profitability.
Inventory Budgeting, Management & Control
Formulate Inventory Budget requirement for the category group for the year, months and seasons.
Ensure collections inventory plan is part of annual inventory.
Store level Inventory budgets and as performance.
Adjust the Inventory as per sales trends.
Ensure effective Sales and Indent Planning
Direct the planning process from sales plan, Indent plan till inventory management.
Direct team to build Category wise and Store wise Model Stock plan taking in account key inputs of past trends, Category price point turns and seasonality.
Direct team to build define Store wise sales plan based on key inputs like target SSPD and growth plans.
Facilitate close monitoring of sales for Stores, categories price points and intervene with necessary interventions in production incase of deviations.
Lead and facilitate accurate Indent plans/projections through close monitoring of sales and foreseeing risks.
Work collaboratively with cross functional teams to ensure close adherence to Indent plans and guide team in case of exceptions.
Oversee timelines and quantities of inventories are adhered to and produced as per stock plan.
Ensure planning for production and warehouse capacity along with category wise phasing and GRN date finalization.
Oversee and ensure OTB and Indent Plan closure through a month wise intake plan, finalized SKUs and buy quantity as per timelines.
Create Model Stock as per margin objectives
Liasoning with category team to finalize Model Stock and Range Plan to ensure minimum deviation from realized margins.
Guiding team to ensure final margins are as per category margin targets.
Process Institutionalization and Management
Develop metrics, tools, and processes to analyze sales data more effectively for accurate projections.
Develop and implement protocols and practices to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of strategic initiatives.
Review business calendar to ensure timelines budgeted for activities are not compromised.
Guide team to provide inputs for key processes like dispatch of goods from warehouse.
Ensure timely and accurate product Universe and PR & PO management by team.
Monitor weekly performance and delivery against commitments.
Analyze critical milestones in, establish priorities and ensure smooth workflow through appropriate interventions with cross functional teams.
Ensuring proactive and effective team development & management
Identifying training needs, development planning and grooming talent within department.
Setting clear performance expectations and providing constructive feedback to the team on a regular basis.
To maintain an employee connect with the team, seeking feedback from the team regularly.
Critical Competencies for Success:
Tactical Planning: Ability to formulate category-level inventory and sales strategies aligned with business goals.
Analytical Acumen: Expertise in interpreting sales trends, forecasting, and adjusting plans proactively.
Process Excellence: Skill in institutionalizing planning processes, tools, and metrics for efficiency.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong capability to coordinate with multiple teams for seamless execution.
Leadership & Team Development: Proven ability to lead, mentor, and build high-performing planning teams.
Decision-Making Under Uncertainty: Ability to foresee risks and implement corrective actions swiftly.
Person Profile
Education: Graduate/Postgraduate in Business Management, Retail Management, or related field. MBA preferred.
Experience: 10+ years in Merchandising Planning or Inventory Management within jewellery or luxury retail.
Industry Knowledge: Deep understanding of jewellery categories (gold, diamond, bridal, essential wear), pricing strategies, and seasonality.
Detail-oriented and proactive.

Skills Required