Merchandise Planner

Merchandise Planner

Full-Time 45000 - 55000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
The Walt Disney Company (France)

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Craft financial strategies and optimise product assortments across various channels.
  • Company: Join the iconic Walt Disney Company with a focus on creativity and collaboration.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, private medical insurance, and free park entry.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values inclusion and professional development.
  • Why this job: Make an impact in a dynamic environment while working with a passionate team.
  • Qualifications: Degree in business or finance; experience in merchandising planning is a plus.

The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.

As a Merchandise Planner, you'll harness business insights and analytics to craft innovative quarterly and annual financial strategies and compelling assortments across multiple channels, including Ecom, Bricks-and-Mortar, and Marketplaces. Your expertise will ensure our offerings stay ahead of market and consumer trends, maximizing opportunities in every segment. You'll evaluate assortments and swiftly respond to in-season performance, trends, and learnings, keeping our inventory optimized and our business agile.

Join our dynamic team and showcase your deep understanding of financial KPIs, balancing them to drive success and foster collaboration across the organization. This role will be based in our London Hammersmith office, 4 days a week, with Friday working from home.

Values

You'll join a team grounded in our Disney values, acting with Integrity, welcoming everyone through Inclusion, embracing boundless Creativity, working together through Collaboration and caring deeply for our Community. These values shape how we work and how we support one another every day.

What You Will Do

  • Accountable for building effective relationships with key stakeholders across the business, and also externally such as vendors and licensees.
  • Collaborate with leaders, cross-functional teams, and e-commerce analytics to develop and execute inclusive strategies and category financial plans that drive growth and profitability, ensuring alignment with key product initiatives and effective inventory flow across all channels.
  • Lead and manage pre-season and in-season category plans, including optimal SKU frameworks, refresh rates, and item stratification, to maximize acquisition, productivity, and inventory turnover.
  • Oversee category product releases and retail category plans, proactively identifying and addressing financial gaps and opportunities to ensure sustainable performance year after year.
  • Monitor in-season performance and trends using weekly business insights and item-level analytics, maximizing opportunities, minimizing liability, and informing future planning.
  • Regularly reforecast sales, inventory, and margin based on category performance for all channels.
  • Establish and provide benchmarks and comparable analyses to deliver product ranges that achieve financial objectives and support data-driven decision-making.
  • Analyze and optimize SKU productivity and inventory management to ensure effective stock turnover and open-to-buy efficiency.
  • Partner with regional buying teams to evaluate and rank new products, maximizing buying decisions through a clear understanding of product lifecycles, market needs, and pricing and liquidation opportunities.
  • Provide thoughtful explanations for changes and recommend optimization strategies in monthly open-to-buy meetings, fostering transparency and supporting collective success through proactive communication of stock availability.
  • Support, mentor, and empower direct reports, fostering professional development and an inclusive, collaborative team culture.
  • Utilize available tools to purchase, analyze, and respond to business trends, striving to achieve growth and profitability objectives.

Required Qualifications & Skills

  • Bachelor's degree in business, finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience in merchandising planning.
  • Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders, as well as external partners such as vendors and licensees.
  • Demonstrated experience as a Merchandiser within an omni-channel retail environment. Global experience is a plus.
  • Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships at all organizational levels, and effectively manage stakeholders within large, multi-national, matrix organizations.
  • Experience in developing and implementing business plans.
  • Experience leading and developing teams. Proven team leadership skills.
  • Strong computer skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required. Experience with Business Objects is desirable.
  • Excellent financial and analytical abilities. Outstanding accuracy and attention to detail.
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to present complex data clearly.
  • Fluent written and spoken English for business purposes is essential.
  • Highly detail-oriented and strong organizational skills.
  • Flexible and adaptable, able to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • Resourceful with proven ability to prioritize, solve problems, and make sound commercial decisions.

The Perks

  • 25 days annual leave
  • Private medical insurance & dental care
  • Free Park Entry: You will have the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free
  • Disney Discounts: you are entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing
  • Excellent parental and guardian leave
  • Employee Resource Groups - WOMEN @ Disney, Disney Mosaic, Disney PRIDE, our disability & neurodiversity focused group - ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Merchandise Planner employer: The Walt Disney Company (France)

At Disney, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that champions creativity, collaboration, and inclusivity. As a Merchandise Planner in our London Hammersmith office, you'll enjoy a flexible work schedule, comprehensive benefits including private medical insurance, and opportunities for professional growth through mentorship and employee resource groups. Join us to be part of a team that not only values your contributions but also supports your development in a dynamic and engaging environment.
The Walt Disney Company (France)

Contact Detail:

The Walt Disney Company (France) Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Merchandise Planner

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at the company you're eyeing. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview by knowing your stuff! Research the company’s recent projects, values, and market trends. This shows you’re genuinely interested and ready to contribute to their success.

✨Tip Number 3

Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online resources. The more comfortable you are talking about your experience and skills, the better you'll perform when it counts.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up! A quick thank-you email after your interview can leave a lasting impression. It shows your enthusiasm and keeps you on their radar as they make their decision.

We think you need these skills to ace Merchandise Planner

Business Insights
Analytics
Financial Strategy Development
Assortment Planning
Inventory Management
Stakeholder Relationship Management
Cross-Functional Collaboration
SKU Optimization
Sales Forecasting
Data-Driven Decision Making
Team Leadership
Microsoft Office Proficiency
Attention to Detail
Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Analytical Skills: As a Merchandise Planner, you'll need to demonstrate your knack for analytics. Make sure to highlight any relevant experience you have with data analysis and financial planning in your application. We want to see how you can use insights to drive strategies!

Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the role. Mention your experience in omni-channel retail environments and how you've successfully managed inventory in the past.

Highlight Collaboration Experience: This role is all about teamwork! Share examples of how you've collaborated with cross-functional teams or built relationships with stakeholders. We love seeing how you foster collaboration and support collective success.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you're keen on joining our dynamic team at StudySmarter!

How to prepare for a job interview at The Walt Disney Company (France)

✨Know Your Numbers

As a Merchandise Planner, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial KPIs relevant to the role, such as inventory turnover and margin analysis. Be ready to discuss how you've used these metrics in past roles to drive success.

✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills

This role requires building effective relationships with various stakeholders. Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams or external partners in previous positions. Highlight your ability to foster teamwork and communication.

✨Stay Ahead of Trends

The job involves responding to market trends and consumer behaviour. Research current trends in merchandising and be prepared to discuss how you would apply this knowledge to create compelling assortments. Show that you're proactive and can think strategically.

✨Prepare for Scenario Questions

Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and adaptability. Think of scenarios where you've had to adjust plans based on in-season performance or market changes. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.

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