Merchandise Planner - Womenswear

About the role

A big-box retailer in Australia is recruiting a Merchandise Planner for its Womenswear category. Reporting to the Planning Manager and working closely with the Womenswear Buying team, you will own the seasonal financial strategy, forecasting and weekly trading for the Womenswear portfolio across the national store footprint. The role sits in a large-scale, high-volume environment where data is turned into category growth.

Key responsibilities

• Build and maintain seasonal category budgets covering sales, gross profit, stock turn, markdown spend and Open-to-Buy (OTB)
• Partner with Buyers on range architecture, option counts, sizing curves and depth strategies for high-volume store grades
• Manage and re-forecast weekly department performance via the WSSI, mitigate slow movers and chase trading opportunities
• Manage high-volume order pipelines and inventory flow to protect working capital and keep warehouse flow lean
• Work with allocation and replenishment teams to fine-tune store tiering and distribution
• Deliver seasonal reviews and competitor insights to shape future procurement and assortment strategies

Required profile

• 5+ years of merchandise planning experience as an autonomous planner in high-volume, multi-site retail
• Proven background in apparel with dedicated experience in Womenswear, including lead times, seasonal shifts, fabrication, sizing curves and promotional cycles
• Experience in a large-format national retail network managing high-volume SKU architectures
• Bachelor degree

Required skills

• WSSI and OTB management
• Advanced Excel
• Familiarity with enterprise merchandise planning systems such as TXT, SAP, Oracle or JDA/Blue Yonder
• Stakeholder management and constructive challenge of commercial decisions

What we offer

• Base salary of $135,000 - $145,000 plus superannuation
• 16% annual performance bonus
• Staff discounts across the national store footprint and affiliated brands
• Free gym access and corporate health and wellness initiatives
• Hybrid working arrangement
• Career pathways into Senior Planning, Merchandise Management and supply chain leadership