L2 Merchandise Planner

Contract type: Permanent

Location: Hatfield (Hybrid working – 3 days in the office)

Working hours per week: 40 hours (full-time)

Level: Assistant Merchandiser

Final date to receive applications: Monday 19th January

Our mission is to deliver joy in every shop, through unbeatable choice, unrivalled service, and reassuringly good value. We’re Ocado Retail, a market‑leading joint venture between Ocado Group and M&S, and the world’s largest dedicated online supermarket,  Not only is  the only place to shop a full range of M&S food online, it’s also the home to the widest online supermarket range in the UK and champion of small, independent brands.

We’re also the brains behind Zoom by Ocado, our same‑day grocery delivery service.

The Merchandise Planner is responsible for the optimisation of stock levels for their department on  They will have full accountability for the stock holding, availability and warehouse space utilisation across a specified set of categories and suppliers. The Merchandise Planner, with support from the MPM, works closely with the Buyer to ensure sales‑weighted availability is maintained at optimal levels to drive sales, meet KPI’s and boost warehouse efficiencies.

• Own the OTB Process:
  Develop long‑term stock projections for new and continuity lines, ensuring alignment with financial KPIs, sales budgets, and promotional plans.
• Maximise Availability:
  Daily validation and placement of weekly purchase orders to drive sales‑weighted availability.
• Performance Analysis:
  Collaborate with Product Buying to maximise key KPIs (sales, basket size, margin, stock holding).
• Reporting:
  Prepare and present detailed KPI reports for weekly trade meetings with proactive, actionable recommendations.
• In‑Season Management:
  Proactively identify and resolve forecast/actual variances to ensure continuous availability.
• Warehouse Optimisation:
  Analyse data to ensure profitable warehouse space utilisation and capacity for inbound volumes.

• Discontinuation:
  Recommend lines for exit based on sales performance (ROS), aged stock, and supplier MOQs.
• Minimise Write‑Offs:
  Maintain minimum aged stock levels by early identification of slow sellers.
• Execute Clearance:
  Plan and manage clearance promotions to ensure timely sell‑through of exit lines while achieving margin targets.

• Relationship Building:
  Nurture effective long‑term supply partnerships, from onboarding to regular performance reviews.
• Service Reviews:
  Lead regular service level reviews with suppliers.
• Launch Coordination:
  Coordinate new line launches, ensuring adherence to critical path timelines.
• Forecast Sharing:
  Produce and share medium‑to‑long‑term forecasts with suppliers.
• Compliance:
  Ensure all supplier dealings adhere to GSCOP and Competition Law.

• Create and manage supplier schedules and delivery forecasts.
• Manage MOQ sign‑off, product availability updates, and administrative tasks (e.g., delists, availability category updates).

• Proven experience as an Assistant/Junior Merchandiser.
• Ideally, e‑commerce retail experience (Homeware, Beauty, Clothing, or Healthcare sectors preferred).
• Exceptional Numerical & Analytical
  
  Skills:
  
  Comfortable interpreting complex data to identify performance drivers and opportunities.
• Strong Commercial Acumen:
  Deep understanding of market dynamics, product mix, basket metrics, and margin impact.
• Organised & Results‑Oriented:
  Highly focused on execution, able to manage multiple tasks, stakeholders, and deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• High proficiency in MS Office and G Suite.

• Planning & Organisation:
  Effective prioritisation and timely delivery across all tasks.
• Adaptability:
  Proactive in initiating and managing change and process evolution.
• Communication:
  Able to adapt style to communicate effectively across all levels and with external suppliers.
• Teamwork: A collaborative colleague who builds strong internal/external relationships and supports team goals.
• Customer‑Centric:
  Driven to exceed customer expectations and enhance the product…