At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead planning for Soft Accessories, ensuring collections are financially robust and creatively aligned.
- Company: Join Burberry, a luxury brand known for its innovative and collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values accountability and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the luxury fashion industry while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: 4-5 years of experience in planning within a fast-paced environment and strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 € per year.
We are seeking a Planning Manager, Soft Accessories to join Burberry’s global Planning organisation. This role sits at the heart of the Accessories division and is responsible for leading all planning activity across the Soft Accessories category, spanning pre‑season strategy through to in‑season trading. You will act as a trusted commercial partner to Merchandising, Supply Chain, Finance and Regional Planning teams, ensuring collections are financially robust, creatively aligned and optimised for global performance. As a people manager, you will also play a key role in developing talent and embedding a high‑performance, collaborative culture.
Responsibilities
- Collection Development and Pre‑Season Planning
- Lead Global Open to Buy across pre‑season and in‑season for Soft Accessories
- Partner closely with Central Merchants to shape collections that balance creative vision and financial targets
- Identify and quantify financial risks and opportunities during collection development
- Own raw material forecasting and commitments, supporting on‑time delivery
- Deliver option productivity and hindsight analysis to inform future collection plans
- Drive pricing analysis across price bands and door tiers
- Collection Open to Buy and Market Buy Governance
- Deliver central Collection Open to Buy guidance and validate regional submissions
- Build Market Open to Buy guidance aligned to category strategies and final assortments
- Challenge regional buys to ensure alignment with guidance and revenue targets
- Assess carry‑forward, replenishment thresholds and re‑order quantities
- Provide unit forecasts to Supply Chain to support capacity planning and vendor negotiations
- In‑Season Trading and Inventory Management
- Deliver regular trade analysis highlighting risks, opportunities and recommended actions
- Provide stock rebalance recommendations to optimise inventory efficiency
- Manage re‑orders, pull‑forwards and delivery flows across Retail and Wholesale
- Optimise delivery flow in line with sales targets and supply chain constraints
- Partner with regional teams to deep dive performance and provide central support
- Coordinate free stock drops and support product lifecycle and delist decisions
- Margin Planning
- Conduct division and category margin analysis
- Embed margin targets into Global Open to Buy
- Deliver scenario analysis to support commercial decision making
- Leadership
- Coach and mentor team members, building long‑term capability within the planning function
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement
- Deputise for the Director or Senior Manager when required
Personal Profile
- Proven experience leading divisional planning within a fast‑paced, luxury or premium environment
- Strong experience across Global Open to Buy, collection planning and margin planning
- A customer‑focused, commercial mindset with strong decision‑making capability
- Excellent analytical skills and exceptional attention to detail
- Strong communication and influencing skills, with credibility at senior levels
- A collaborative leadership style with experience developing teams
- Bachelor’s degree required
- SAP experience is advantageous
Burberry is an Equal Opportunities Employer and as such, treats all applications equally and recruits purely on the basis of skills and experience.
Planning Manager, Soft Accessories in London employer: FashionUnited Group
Burberry is an exceptional employer that fosters a high-performance, collaborative culture, making it an ideal place for a Planning Manager in the Soft Accessories division. With a strong focus on employee development and talent growth, Burberry offers unique opportunities to work at the heart of a luxury brand while ensuring financial robustness and creative alignment in collections. Located in England, the company provides a dynamic environment where innovative thinking and strategic planning are highly valued, allowing employees to thrive and contribute to the brand's global success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Planning Manager, Soft Accessories in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those at Burberry. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by knowing your stuff. Research Burberry’s recent collections and be ready to discuss how your planning skills can enhance their Soft Accessories line.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your analytical skills! Be prepared to share examples of how you've tackled financial risks and opportunities in past roles. Numbers speak volumes!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Planning Manager, Soft Accessories in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Planning Manager role. Highlight your experience in collection planning and margin analysis, as these are key for us at Burberry. Use specific examples that showcase your skills in a fast-paced environment.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Share your passion for soft accessories and how your background aligns with our needs. Don’t forget to mention your collaborative leadership style and how you can contribute to our high-performance culture.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:We love numbers! Make sure to highlight your analytical skills and any relevant experience with financial forecasting or trade analysis. This will show us that you can handle the responsibilities of the role effectively.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Burberry.
How to prepare for a job interview at FashionUnited Group
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Planning Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your analytical skills. Brush up on key metrics related to Open to Buy, margin planning, and inventory management. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit
This role requires working closely with various teams like Merchandising and Supply Chain. Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated in the past, highlighting your ability to foster a high-performance culture and develop talent within your team.
✨Understand the Brand
Burberry is a luxury brand, so it's crucial to understand its market positioning and customer base. Familiarise yourself with their Soft Accessories line and be prepared to discuss how you can align financial targets with creative vision in your planning strategies.
✨Prepare for Scenario Analysis
Expect questions that test your decision-making capabilities. Think about scenarios where you've had to conduct margin analysis or make recommendations based on trade analysis. Be ready to explain your thought process and the outcomes of your decisions.
