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.
Olsam. offers an exciting opportunity for the TikTok & Social Media Lead role, where you will thrive in a vibrant and creative work culture that values innovation and collaboration. With a hybrid work model, employees enjoy flexibility while being part of a dynamic team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the beauty industry. Olsam. prioritises employee growth through continuous learning opportunities and encourages a passion for social media, particularly TikTok, ensuring that your contributions are recognised and celebrated.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Merchandise Planning Analyst in England
✨Join Supply Chain Meetups
Get yourself out there by attending supply chain meetups and industry events. It's a great way to meet fellow professionals, learn about trends, and maybe even hear about job openings before they’re posted online.
✨Show Off Your Skills on LinkedIn
Don’t just sit back and wait for opportunities! Post insights or articles on LinkedIn about supply chain challenges or solutions you’re passionate about. This not only showcases your expertise but can catch the eye of recruiters looking for someone like you.
✨Engage with Supply Chain Communities
Dive into online communities related to supply chain operations like forums or groups on Reddit and LinkedIn. Engaging in discussions can help you network, get advice, and you might even stumble upon some hidden job opportunities.
✨Apply through Our Website
When you spot a position at Olsam., make sure to apply through our website directly. It's often the quickest way to get your application in front of the right people and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role of Merchandise Planning Analyst.
We think you need these skills to ace Merchandise Planning Analyst in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Supply Chain Savvy:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in supply chain operations. Whether it’s managing logistics or coordinating with suppliers, we want to see examples of how you've navigated the complexities of the supply chain. Concrete achievements, like reducing costs or improving delivery times, will definitely catch our eye!
Quantify Your Impact:When listing your previous roles on your CV, go for numbers! Mention percentages or actual figures where possible—like how much you've improved efficiency or reduced waste. It's all about showing us the tangible impact you've made in your past positions in supply chain operations.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:In your cover letter, don’t just regurgitate your CV. Instead, connect your experiences specifically to the role at Olsam.. Share why you're passionate about supply chain operations and how this full-time role aligns with your career goals—I mean, who wouldn’t want to hear that!
Research and Reflect:Before you apply, take some time to research Olsam. and its supply chain operations. Reflect on how your skills and experiences can fit into their operations. Being able to discuss their challenges and how you can contribute to solving them in your application will really make you stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Olsam.
✨Know Your Basics in Supply Chain Management
Make sure you've got a solid grasp of key supply chain concepts like demand forecasting, inventory management, and logistics. We could be quizzed on these during technical rounds, so brush up on any software tools commonly used in the industry like SAP or Oracle. This knowledge will help us show we can hit the ground running!
✨Show Off Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss real-world scenarios where you've used data analysis to solve supply chain challenges. If you've got experience with tools like Excel or Tableau, get ready to talk about how you've used these to optimise processes or improve efficiencies. Employers love seeing that we can turn data into actionable insights!
✨Highlight Your Teamwork and Project Management Skills
In a full-time role, collaboration is key. Think of examples where you've worked on cross-functional teams or managed projects. Sharing how you navigated challenges while working with diverse groups will show that we can thrive in a dynamic environment like at Olsam..
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by Olsam.
Look into any unique supply chain challenges Olsam. might be facing, whether it's sustainability, supplier relationships, or global disruptions. Being prepared to discuss these topics shows that we're not only informed but also genuinely interested in how we can contribute to their success. That’s a big plus in any interview!
