At a Glance
- Tasks: Support business performance through reporting, forecasting, and commercial analysis.
- Company: Join Ralph Lauren, a global leader in premium lifestyle products.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for growth.
- Other info: Be part of a team that values inclusion and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a dynamic retail environment with a focus on collaboration.
- Qualifications: Experience in planning or analysis, strong Excel skills, and attention to detail.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL) is a global leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories: apparel, accessories, home, fragrances, and hospitality.
For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets.
The Company's brand names, which include Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren Children, Chaps, among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands.
At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all.
We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.
The Business Planner Associate supports the EMEA Brick & Mortar business by delivering accurate reporting, forecasting, and commercial analysis across Full Price and Outlet stores.
The role plays a key part in identifying risks and opportunities, supporting trading decisions, and providing insights that drive business performance.
Working closely with Planning, Finance, Retail Operations, BI, and Regional teams, the Business Planner Associate will help monitor performance against plan, forecast, and prior year while supporting weekly, monthly, and annual planning cycles.
The role is expected to demonstrate strong analytical capability, commercial curiosity, and a proactive approach to problem solving.
- Trading & Performance Analysis
- Produce daily, weekly, and monthly B&M trading reports and performance updates.
- Analyse key retail KPIs including sales, traffic, conversion, UPT, AUR, ROV, and ATV.
- Identify trading risks and opportunities in the current forecast, supporting with scenario building.
- Support weekly trade calls and leadership updates with accurate and timely analysis.
- Monitor performance by market, cluster, store, and channel against plan, forecast, and prior year.
- Forecasting & Planning
- Support store-level and regional forecasting processes.
- Maintain planning assumptions and forecast models.
- Track performance trends and understand key business drivers impacting results.
- Support annual budget, forecast, and strategic planning cycles.
- Assist with planning around key trading events, promotions, holidays, and peak periods.
- Commercial Insights
- Develop insights into store performance drivers including tourism, weather, local events, landlord activity, and competitor trends.
- Support reviews of regional, landlord, and cluster performance.
- Provide ad-hoc analysis to support strategic and operational decision-making.
- Prepare executive-ready presentations and summaries highlighting key business insights.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Finance, Retail Operations, Store Leadership, BI, and Regional teams.
- Support the alignment of forecasts, assumptions, and performance commentary across functions.
- Coordinate planning calendars, reporting outputs, and business reviews.
- Help identify opportunities to improve planning processes and reporting efficiency.
- Required
- Previous experience in Planning, Finance, Commercial Analysis, Retail Operations, or a similar analytical role.
- Strong Excel and data analysis skills.
- Excellent numerical and problem-solving capability.
- Ability to interpret data and communicate clear business insights.
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced retail environment.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Preferred
- Experience working within a retail or consumer-facing business.
- Knowledge of planning and reporting systems, including o9, Power BI, or similar analytical platforms.
- Understanding of retail KPIs and forecasting methodologies.
- Success Measures
- Delivers accurate and timely reporting and analysis.
- Supports improved forecast accuracy and planning effectiveness.
- Identifies actionable opportunities that positively influence store performance.
- Builds strong partnerships across functions.
- Demonstrates ownership, continuous improvement, and commercial curiosity.
- Contributes positively to team culture and collaborative working.
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Business Planner Associate in Watford employer: Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren Corporation is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion while providing exciting career opportunities within a globally recognised lifestyle brand. Employees enjoy a competitive benefits package, generous discounts, and the chance to bring their authentic selves to work, all within an environment that prioritises client engagement and personal growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Planner Associate in Watford
✨Get to Grips with Data Visualisation Tools
If you're aiming for a full-time role in business intelligence, brush up on your skills with popular data visualisation tools like Tableau or Power BI. Showcasing projects where you've transformed raw data into clear visual insights can give you a real edge.
✨Join Local Business Intelligence Meetups
Look for local business intelligence meetups or analytics conferences in your area. These events are not just great for learning but also for networking with industry professionals who could lead you to opportunities at companies like Ralph Lauren!
✨Engage with Online BI Communities
Join online forums or communities focused on business intelligence—think LinkedIn groups, Reddit threads, or even dedicated Slack channels. Engage actively by sharing your insights and asking questions; this can help you build visibility and connect with potential employers.
✨Leverage Your University’s Career Support
If you're a recent graduate, definitely tap into your university's career services. Many have connections with companies in need of full-time BI specialists, and they can guide you on how to pitch yourself effectively—don't miss out on that!
We think you need these skills to ace Business Planner Associate in Watford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In the business intelligence field, showcasing your analytical skills is a must. Make sure your CV includes relevant experience with data analysis tools, programming languages like SQL or Python, and any projects where you've interpreted complex data sets to drive business decisions.
Showcase Your Business Acumen:Don't just focus on data; show us how you can apply your insights to real-world business problems. Highlight projects where you made a tangible impact on company performance, and be prepared to explain your thought process in your cover letter.
Tailor Your Documents for Us:When applying for a full-time role at Ralph Lauren, tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect our organisational goals and strategies. Mention specific tools and methodologies that align with what we do—this shows you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in our mission!
Include Relevant Certifications:Certifications like Google Data Analytics or similar qualifications can really make you stand out in business intelligence. Include these in your application, as they demonstrate your commitment to the field and your willingness to stay current with industry standards.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ralph Lauren
✨Show off your analytical skills
In a business intelligence role, you're going to need to demonstrate your analytical prowess. Be prepared to discuss specific tools you've used, like SQL, Tableau, or Power BI. Have real-world examples ready where you’ve turned data into actionable insights – this is what makes us shine in interviews!
✨Practice your technical know-how
Expect some technical questions during the interview that dive deep into your understanding of data modelling and analytics frameworks. Brush up on your knowledge of data warehousing concepts and be ready to tackle any real case scenarios they might present. They’ll want to see how you approach problems using your BI toolkit.
✨Portfolio of Projects
Since it's a full-time role, having a strong portfolio is key! Compile case studies demonstrating your previous projects, preferably showing how your insights led to business improvements. This can help us display how you think through complex datasets and your problem-solving process, which is what employers are keen on seeing.
✨Know their business model
Get familiar with Ralph Lauren’s business model and recent data-driven decisions. Be prepared to discuss how your skills can specifically support their objectives or challenges. Understanding their landscape shows that you’re not just a data buff, but you’re also genuinely interested in how BI can impact their bottom line.
