Merchandise Planner

**THE ROLE & THE TEAM**:
At Zalando, we want to create a unique online customer experience that helps us connect more deeply with our customers shopping across Fashion and Beauty products in one-stop-shop destination. Beauty is a key customer proposition for Zalando.

Our Beauty Category was established in 2018 by a team of colleagues across Business Development, Buying, and Merchandise Planning. Since then the team has grown significantly, making impressive inroads into the Beauty online market, and delivering exponential growth. Our assortment has grown to more than 600 brands across make-up, skincare, fragrances, haircare, and beauty accessories and now includes iconic names like MAC, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Charlotte Tilbury and Urban Decay.

Looking forward, we set our sights on scaling the business and building the foundations for online beauty leadership in the future.

As a Merchandise Planner in the Beauty team you have end-to-end accountability for a defined part of the business (either a unit or a sizable part of a unit.) You are responsible for defining the financial KPI plan that is reflective of the unit strategy for a season which you have determined with your buying counterpart. You have total accountability for steering the unit to reach the financial KPIs you define. You guide junior members in your unit on actions to take to ensure the KPIs of the unit are achieved.

To deliver your role you are confident in using forecasting and reporting tools and use your experience of managing several end-to-end planning cycles to mitigate risk and capture opportunities.

**A culture of fashion, analytics, and industry innovation. Learn more about Zalando Category Management in our landing page** **HERE**

**INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN**:
**WHAT WE'D LOVE YOU TO DO (AND LOVE DOING)**:

- Demonstrate total accountability of leading at least one end-to-end planning cycle for a defined area due to your experience working in Merchandise Planning or a commercially facing analytical role. You optimize opportunities and mitigate risks with your significant experience in using both planning and forecasting tools. You ensure your unit remains competitive while optimizing margin and stock turn.
- Identifying trends, initiatives and opportunities through multiple data points. You collaborate well with Buyers, developing a strategy tailored to specific market needs, as well as identifying which internal departments you should build collaborative relationships with to deliver your financial results.
- You will work closely with key beauty brands negotiating the right terms for your business and leading the brand relationships growing the Zalando business season after season.
- Conducting historical analysis to better understand the business, as well as managing assortment planning through flow plans and product quantifications. You take ambitious growth targets in your stride and are creative in your approach of how to get there.
- Ensure high levels of product availability by managing Assistant Merchandisers in the replenishment of inventories. You are hands on and support junior team members improving processes and utilizing new tooling improvements

**WE'D LOVE TO MEET YOU IF**:

- Bachelor's degree in Business or comparable field. More than 4 years Merchandising/Planning experience (preferably within Beauty eCommerce) with proven end to end ownership for at least 1 planning cycle. Confidence in using both planning and forecasting tools to determine risks and opportunities - familiarity utilizing at least one merchandise planning software is highly beneficial.
- Whilst experience in the Beauty industry is not a requirement, it is preferred and in particular proven experience working with leading Beauty suppliers.
- Motivation, structure and positivity in a very dynamic and fast-paced environment, embracing change and being always on the hunt for solutions. You exercise high levels of personal accountability and are willing to go the extra mile to achieve results. You have excellent English skills, communicate clearly with varied stakeholders and possess solid negotiation skills.
- Solid experience of functionally managing and developing junior team members, you are ready to build upon these skills and gain exposure to disciplinary leadership
- You love to work with numbers and figures, thinking strategically and being excited by the opportunity to shape the different categories. You have experience in Google Suite and consider yourself an expert in Excel.

**OUR OFFER**:
Zalando provides a range of benefits, here's an overview of what you can expect. Ask your Talent Acquisition Partner to learn more about what we offer.
- Employee shares program
- 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Zalando Lounge, discounts from external partners
- 2 paid volunteering days a year
- Hybrid working model with 60% (or more) remote per week, actual practice is up to each team to best support their coll