Planning Manager in Wembley

Join Casio UK, a leading name in the consumer electronics industry, renowned for its precision, quality, and innovation. As a subsidiary of a prestigious Japanese company, we are committed to upholding the legacy of our parent company while driving growth and excellence in our market. We are in search of an outstanding Planning Manager who is meticulous and proactive in overseeing the sales planning and stock procurement process. Your primary responsibility will be to ensure optimal sales and inventory levels across our own stores, e-commerce site and partner retailers. This crucial role plays a vital part in managing the product life cycle, conducting monthly reviews, and implementing effective sales and purchasing strategies. The ideal candidate should possess strong analytical skills, attention to detail and a deep understanding of inventory management and retail operations. You will also be responsible for coaching and mentoring the Senior Planner.

Key Responsibilities

• Sales Planning
  • Develop and oversee the creation and ongoing updates of sales plans for each product and sales channel/key account.
  • Collaborate closely with sales, direct e-commerce and marketing teams in both UK and HQ (Tokyo) to strategise and manage the sales plans for each product and channel.
  • Analyse stock and sell-out data to identify, report and capitalise on trends, challenges and opportunities. Utilise this data to make informed decisions for purchase planning.
• Stock Planning & Purchasing
  • Develop and execute comprehensive stock planning strategies to ensure optimal inventory levels.
  • Coordinate with HQ to manage the purchase planning process, ensuring timely and cost effective procurement.
  • Work closely with sales and marketing to optimise inventory for all brand and seasonal campaigns.
• Product Lifecycle Management
  • Manage the entire cycle of the product, starting from its initial introduction and spanning until its discontinuation.
  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to develop strategies and carry out product launches, oversee transitions and handle obsolete inventory.
• Retail & E-Commerce Coordination
  • Work in close collaboration with our internal store, e-commerce site and external retailers to ensure alignment between inventory levels, sales forecasts and promotional plans.
  • Meticulously monitor sales performance and promptly make any required adjustments to stock levels in order to effectively meet demand and achieve sales targets.
• Monthly Reviews & Reporting
  • Prepare and present monthly reviews, detailing inventory status, sales performance and purchasing activities.
  • Analyse data to identify trends, opportunities and areas of improvement.
• Profit Planning & Budgetary Management
  • Support the improvement of profitability and identification of opportunities for improvement through profit analysis and the preparation of annual budgets.
  • Effectively manage and accurately record and report invoicing and actual costs.
• KPI Management
  • Monitor and provide updates on important performance indicators such as sales quotas, inventory levels and net profitability.
  • Devise and execute strategies to surpass and achieve KPI objectives.
• Personnel & Stakeholder Management
  • Motivate, lead and enhance the skills of the Senior Planner.
  • Collaborate closely with various stakeholders within the company such as sales, planning, operations and marketing.

Requirements

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in sales and purchase planning, preferably within consumer goods industries.
• Japanese speaker, or has good experience of working within a Japanese organisation/culture.
• Exceptional analytical skills, enabling accurate interpretation of data and informed decision-making.
• Excellent organisational and time management abilities, coupled with the capacity to rapidly adapt to shifting priorities.
• Extensive proficiency in Excel and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proficient in inventory management software - previous JDE or eStar experience would be highly advantageous!
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to effectively collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders.
• High attention to detail with a keen interest and drive to proactively problem-solve.
• Strong ability to thrive in high-pressure environments and consistently meet challenging deadlines.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays.
• Paid Birthday Day Off.
• Competitive Salary & Bonus Scheme.
• Fantastic healthcare benefits from Day One: Private Medical Insurance via BUPA, Permanent Health Insurance, Medicash Health Plan.
• Death In Service (4x salary).
• Excellent non-contributory Pension Scheme, up to 14%.
• Employee Discount, up to 50%.
• Anytime access to personal development and training courses via LinkedIn Learning.
• Anytime access to retail discounts at 200+ retailers (Reward Gateway).
• Casio Sponsorship Scheme for employee charity fundraising.
• Head Office team social events and activities including giveaways and reward & recognition incentives.
• Join a company that's recently been certified as a 'Great Place to Work'!