Company Description
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.
Position Overview
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.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
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.
Experience, Skills & Knowledge
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.
Ralph Lauren 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.
