At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead planning across departments, driving performance and collaboration to meet financial targets.
- Company: Join Michael Kors, a global fashion brand passionate about creativity and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a dynamic work environment with opportunities for personal growth and development.
- Why this job: Be part of a fast-paced team that values diversity and fosters a culture of continuous learning.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in merchandise planning, strong leadership skills, and proficiency in planning systems required.
- Other info: This is a 12-month fixed-term contract based in London.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Michael Kors is always interested in hearing from talented, globally-minded individuals with a passion for fashion.
If you enjoy working in a creative, fast-paced environment, then we would love to hear from you!
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Job Title: Planning Manager 12-month FTC
Reports To: Director of Planning
Location: London Office
- Oversee and manage planning across multiple departments and channels, driving commercial performance through strategic planning, effective trading, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver financial targets and operational excellence.
- Lead and develop a multi-tiered team, providing clear direction, regular performance appraisals, and tailored development plans to build capability and support individual growth.
Key Responsibilities:
Commercial & Financial Planning
- Set and manage financial targets by department and category, aligned with business objectives.
- Lead strategies to grow the full-price business and protect/drive comp sales.
- Act as the Full Price business lead-consolidating department insights and providing short- and long-term topline forecasts.
- Own the monthly Open-to-Buy (OTB) process and ensure regular in-season forecasting and trade reactivity.
- Analyse WSSI data to identify commercial opportunities and minimise business risks.
- Deliver reports and business recaps, analysing sales, inventory, markdowns, and profit performance at both topline and regional/classification levels.
- Conduct pre-sign financial meetings with Planning and Buying teams ahead of market to review budgets, align on financial targets, assess prior performance, and ensure investment decisions are data-driven and commercially sound.
Merchandise & Assortment Strategy
- Partner with the Buying team to shape seasonal merchandise assortments in line with financial plans.
- Analyse key metrics (ROS, sell-through, sales density) and present findings to senior management to inform actionable strategies.
- Recommend seasonal buys based on deep commercial analysis to optimise sales, profitability, and sell-through rates.
- Collaborate with Field team, Allocation and Buying to manage product flow and assortment by classification.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Retail, Buying, Finance, and Store Operations to develop and execute commercial strategies.
- Support New Store Openings in collaboration with Buying and Branch teams supporting with financial planning, stock builds, and forecasting.
- Develop financial strategies in partnership with Field to monitor and exceed planned performance.
Team Leadership & Development
- Manage and develop a multi-tiered team, providing coaching, clear expectations, and regular performance feedback.
- Build a high-performing, commercially focused planning team, fostering accountability, curiosity, and continuous learning.
- Identify rising talent and support the career development of direct report
Inventory Management & Exit Strategies
- Monitor stock levels, weeks of supply, and sell-through rates to ensure alignment with stock targets.
- Develop and implement exit strategies for aged and underperforming stock to protect margin and improve inventory efficiency.
Skills & Experience Required:
- Strong background in merchandise planning and financial forecasting (at least 7 years).
- Experience managing a multi-category and multi-channel business.
- Proven leadership in developing and coaching teams.
- High proficiency in planning systems (e.g. EP, WSSI, OTB tools) and strong Excel skills.
- Commercially astute, with a strategic mindset and the ability to drive performance through data-led decisions.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across levels and functions.
Desirable:
- Experience in a luxury or premium retail environment.
- Familiarity with systems like BI tools (e.g. Qlik, Power BI), Zebra Pricing Tool, or other analytical platforms.
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At Capri, we are all responsible for creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We try to inspire change and growth within each other and believe success is a result that comes from our differences . Capri is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusivity regardless of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic characteristics, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, alienage, citizenship, disability, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or any other legally-recognized protected basis prohibited by applicable law. M/D/F/V #J-18808-Ljbffr
Michael Kors Planning Manager - 12 Month FTC employer: Michael Kors
Contact Detail:
Michael Kors Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Michael Kors Planning Manager - 12 Month FTC
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in merchandise planning and financial forecasting. Understanding the current market dynamics will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to Michael Kors' commercial performance.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the luxury retail sector, especially those who have experience in planning roles. Engaging with industry insiders can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals for the position.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you've successfully developed teams in the past. Highlight specific examples where your coaching has led to improved performance, as this is a key aspect of the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Brush up on your Excel skills and any relevant planning systems like WSSI or OTB tools. Being able to demonstrate your proficiency in these areas during discussions will set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Michael Kors Planning Manager - 12 Month FTC
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in merchandise planning and financial forecasting. Emphasise your leadership skills and any experience managing multi-category and multi-channel businesses.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for fashion and your understanding of the role. Mention specific examples of how you've driven commercial performance and collaborated cross-functionally in previous positions.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, clearly outline your proficiency in planning systems and Excel. If you have experience with BI tools or other analytical platforms, make sure to mention these as they are desirable for the role.
Showcase Team Leadership Experience: Provide examples of how you've developed and coached teams in the past. Highlight your ability to foster accountability and continuous learning within your team, as this is a key aspect of the Planning Manager role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Michael Kors
✨Show Your Passion for Fashion
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for the fashion industry during the interview. Share any relevant experiences or projects that highlight your passion and understanding of current trends, as this aligns with what Michael Kors values in their candidates.
✨Demonstrate Your Analytical Skills
Given the role's focus on financial planning and data analysis, be prepared to discuss specific examples where you've used data to drive decisions. Highlight your experience with tools like WSSI and Excel, and how you've leveraged these to optimise performance.
✨Emphasise Team Leadership Experience
As a Planning Manager, you'll be leading a multi-tiered team. Share your leadership style and provide examples of how you've developed and coached teams in the past. Discuss how you foster accountability and continuous learning within your team.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role requires collaboration across various departments. Be ready to discuss your experience working with different teams, such as Buying, Retail, and Finance. Provide examples of successful projects where you worked cross-functionally to achieve common goals.