At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive inventory efficiency and demand forecasting for exciting brands.
- Company: Join Olsam, a dynamic team shaping the future of global consumer goods.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 30 days holiday, private medical insurance, and work-from-abroad options.
- Other info: Enjoy flexi-Fridays, quarterly events, and a supportive, inclusive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced startup with international opportunities.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in demand or merchandise planning, strong analytical skills, and team management experience.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 50000 £ per year.
Join to apply for the Merchandise Planning Analyst role at Olsam. At Olsam, we are on a mission to grow brands and develop products that customers love, trust, and value. We specialize in acquiring and scaling category-leading brands, unlocking their full potential by expanding them across international marketplaces and channels, streamlining operations, and driving product innovation. With a fantastic team across three continents and 15 nationalities, we bring together over 50 years of e-commerce expertise.
Your Role at a Glance: As a Merchandise Planning Analyst at Olsam, you will play a crucial role in strengthening our end-to-end inventory planning processes and driving strategic inventory efficiency. This is a key strategic role that spans all brands and sales channels, playing a vital part in driving brand growth, improving working capital efficiency, and supporting operational scalability as we continue our rapid expansion. This role is ideal for someone with strong experience in demand planning or merchandising and a strategic, analytical mindset, who is excited to work in a fast-paced, growing start-up with a talented team. Your core focus will be demand forecasting and purchase planning, working closely with the Merchandise Planning Manager and Brand Managers to ensure our brands are consistently stocked to support growth. You will take ownership of optimising inventory flow end to end, from suppliers in China to our 3PL warehouses and ultimately to Amazon FBA.
Location & Flexibility: Full-time, permanent role based at our modern office in Runway East, London. 40 hours per week, 9 am to 6 pm with a one-hour lunch. This position is hybrid, with the expectation to go to the office 2 days per week.
Key responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain sales forecasts by partnering with Brand Managers to account for seasonality, promotions, and growth plans.
- Monitor forecast accuracy by tracking actual sales vs. plan and highlighting key trends or outliers.
- Build and update inventory purchase plans in collaboration with Procurement to meet forecasted demand.
- Manage the PO process and timelines with Procurement to ensure timely stock availability.
- Support inventory-related cash flow planning with the Merchandise Planning & Procurement Manager.
- Monitor overall inventory health, escalating overstock or understock risks and coordinating timely deliveries.
- Maintain and share key inventory KPIs, providing visibility across functions.
- Lead cross-functional communication and manage one direct report to optimise inventory across 3PL, Amazon, and in-transit locations.
About you: 3+ years' experience in Demand Planning and/or Merchandise Planning, ideally within an ecommerce or marketplace environment. Strong analytical and forecasting skills, with exceptional attention to numerical accuracy and a highly numerate mindset. Highly proficient in MS Excel and other analytical tools. Strong commercial mindset, able to understand trade-offs and working capital impact. Experience managing small teams is desirable. Experience managing purchasing and/or sales budgets. Excellent communication and coordination skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally across all levels of the business.
Competitive Salary: up to £50,000 per year. 30 days holiday + 8 UK bank holidays. Pension contribution Scheme – 5% from you, 3% from us. Private Medical Insurance – Includes travel, vision & dental (through Vitality). Work from Abroad – One month per year, anywhere in the world. Bonus Scheme – Discretionary bonus, based on individual and company performance. Mental Health Support – Free, confidential therapy via Spill. Opportunity for International Travel – Our team members have been to New York, Vegas, Amsterdam… and Birmingham! Flexi-Fridays – Finish early one Friday per month. Olstar Events – Quarterly meetups, celebrations & socials.
Olsam is proud to be a disability-committed employer registered in the UK. If you identify as having a disability and meet all of the criteria set out in the job description, we would like to support you through the interview stage. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment where all employees and applicants can flourish.
Merchandise Planning Analyst in England employer: Olsam.
Avenir Collective is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, where collaboration and innovation thrive. As a Talent Acquisition Specialist, you'll enjoy a competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and unique perks like the opportunity to work from abroad for a month each year. With a strong focus on employee growth and well-being, including mental health support and engaging team events, Avenir Collective is dedicated to building a supportive environment that empowers you to make a meaningful impact in the beauty and personal care industry.
