Senior Merchandiser / Planning Manager (Beauty & Lifestyle)

Operating retail and beauty brands across the UAE, the Senior Merchandise or Planning Manager oversees the financial, inventory, and assortment strategy for beauty and lifestyle categories. Core Job Responsibilities: - Assortment & Range Architecture: Design and execute GCC-wide category mixes and product portfolios across skincare, color cosmetics, fragrance, haircare, and beauty accessories tailored to local consumer preferences. - Financial & OTB Planning: Own and manage Open-To-Buy (OTB) budgets, seasonal sales plans, gross margin targets, and inventory investment limits to maximize profitability and minimize stock risk. - Forecasting & Demand Analysis: Analyze historical sales data, sell-through rates, stock turn, and Weeks-of-Supply (WOS) to forecast demand and validate buying projections. - Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Buyers, Operations, Finance, Marketing, and Supply Chain teams to align product drops and promotional calendars with stock availability. - Trading & Performance Optimization: Review weekly and monthly commercial trading performance, identifying slow-moving lines or stock-outs and taking immediate corrective action. - Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and build the capabilities of junior planners and analysts, driving a high-performance culture backed by clear KPIs. Key Requirements: - Experience: Typically 5 to 8+ years in retail merchandise planning, demand forecasting, or category management—ideally within prestige beauty, cosmetics, or multi-brand retail in the GCC/UAE. - Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in retail planning systems, ERP software (such as SAP or Oracle), and data analytics tools (Excel, Power BI, or specialized planning platforms). - Commercial Acumen: Strong understanding of retail financial metrics including Gross Margin Return on Investment (GMROI), sell-through, and inventory turn