Merchandise Planning Manager

About the Company

JD Sports is a prominent sports-fashion retailer established in 1981, committed to connecting emerging consumers worldwide through sport, music, and fashion culture. As a leading global omnichannel retailer of Sports, Fashion, and Outdoor brands, JD Sports continues to expand its presence across Canada while fostering an inclusive, diverse work atmosphere. The company prioritizes presenting authentic brands in premium retail environments to deliver an exceptional shopping experience.

Role Overview

The Merchandise Planning Manager at JD Sports Canada will oversee the comprehensive merchandise planning cycle, ensuring product assortments, inventory control, and demand projections perfectly align with sales targets and customer needs. This position requires close collaboration with multiple departments such as Buying, Retail, Supply Chain, and Finance to maintain stock accuracy, enhance product availability, and optimize profitability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning team by establishing clear goals and nurturing a collaborative culture focused on data-driven decision-making.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives, refining planning workflows and adopting innovative methods as necessary.
• Design and execute training programs for planning and allocation personnel to enhance team capability.
• Build strong cross-departmental partnerships to support organizational success.
• Collaborate with Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to create merchandise strategies spanning annual, seasonal, and monthly timelines.
• Manage the Open-to-Buy (OTB) process, reporting progress to senior leadership.
• Develop category-specific product mixes through comprehensive data analysis including historical trends and SWOT reviews.
• Supervise space and assortment planning to ensure effective store distribution aligned with the buying strategy.
• Offer strategic guidance on product assortment choices throughout planning phases.
• Maintain inventory within KPIs defined by the SLT, managing inbound forecasting and execution.
• Analyze weekly sales data to identify trends or issues and prepare corrective action plans for trade meetings.
• Work jointly with planning and buying teams to forecast and manage markdowns appropriately.
• Conduct store visits regularly to assess performance, develop optimization plans, and relay insights to retail counterparts.
• Ensure effective product allocation to correct locations in proper quantities and timeliness.
• Oversee store inventory options and capacity to support business objectives.

Desired Professional Traits

• High-quality, enthusiastic work ethic to deliver superior results consistently.
• Proactive ownership of assigned responsibilities with decisive initiative.
• Collaborative teamwork to achieve shared objectives, facilitating knowledge exchange and problem-solving.
• Exemplary leadership by setting a professional standard and motivating others toward goal attainment.
• Effective, clear communication with all stakeholders ensuring comprehension and engagement.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• At least eight years of expertise in merchandise allocation.
• Deep knowledge of inventory management, merchandise planning, and retail supply chain operations.
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects concurrently with strong organisational skills.
• Experience in multichannel merchandising and planning specifically within the sports retail sector.