Senior Manager Franchise Buying, Originals

The Senior Manager Franchise Buying, Originals leads buying and merchandising planning within the Merchandising & Planning team, based in Shanghai. The role spans the full seasonal cycle, covering pre-season buy planning, assortment planning, in-season buying execution and post-season review across channels and store clusters. It works closely with cross-functional partners and includes responsibility for managing and developing a team.

• Develop buy plans per channel and per store cluster in line with the buying strategy, top-down financial targets and a deep understanding of fashion trends and consumers.
• Conduct historical analysis of buying structure and propose pre-season buying structures for each channel at cluster and store level.
• Provide detailed article-level analysis using existing analysis models to identify key drivers for top-selling articles as well as slow-moving articles.
• Develop channel and store cluster proposals and distribution plans, monitor buying quantity against budget and reconcile the buy plan to the merchandise plan.
• Create assortment plans by channel and store cluster based on GCA RA, local needs and the commercial calendar, supported by detailed product and store segmentation and clustering.
• Develop seasonal assortment strategy according to segmentation, local needs and sell-out data for Monobrand stores, and compile a clear merchandising strategy at store cluster level.
• Integrate with BC and RM into campaign planning, building the right mandatory package at cluster level.
• Monitor sell-through percentage and product performance by channel, region and store format in close collaboration with other functions, driving quick actions based on performance.
• Lead ongoing product and category performance and quantitative analysis, and provide analysis to develop markdown strategy and support the markdown and clearance process.
• Maintain and monitor compliance of the pre-season buy and the planning calendar.
• Provide analysis and documentation for the post-season review, including seasonal deep-dive analysis for customers, and partner with cross-functional teams to develop action steps for the next season.
• Manage retail database accuracy and on-time KPI report delivery together with Retail Business Planning and IT.
• Participate in systems training, product seasonal presentations, technology training and merchandising training.
• Manage daily work assignments and daily performance of the team, coaching team members and newcomers to improve merchandising knowledge.

• University advanced degree.
• Minimum 8 years' experience in a merchandising planning or buying function, including team management experience.
• Solid data analysis know-how, with cross-functional experience.
• Product management or merchandising experience.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both internal and external.
• People management skills.
• High influencing skill, with the ability to proactively communicate analysis and methodologies with functional partners and influence them to rethink and change their existing practices.
• Rigorous business analysis ability: understanding and interpreting data, putting data, analysis and tools into a structured, easy-to-use format, and making recommendations that the team can act upon.
• Excellent presentation and PowerPoint skills.
• Excellent Excel skills, with advanced PowerPoint and Outlook skills.
• Strong PC skills.
• Sensitivity to the fashion industry.
• A good understanding of the retail business.
• Team player.
• Practical and reactive.

• Very good Excel modelling skills and the ability to develop useful models and tools that can be rolled out to merchandising and retail teams.

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