Associate Planner

Position Overview

Support Merchandiser in current season forecasting, trading and future season planning, in order to maximize sales and profitability.

• Can accurately interpret trade reports on a weekly, monthly, and ad‑hoc basis, summarising key messages and actions.
• Utilises trade reports and own knowledge to influence forecasting & promotional/MD planning.
• Analyses channel availability and can take necessary trading actions.
• Accurately forecasts WSSI to reflect short‑ and long‑term risks and opportunities to KPI’s, communicating impacts to planner.
• Contributes to hindsight analysis and forward strategies, and communicates clearly and objectively the key learnings to planner.
• Supports forecasting of line cards to maximise sales potential and optimise stock availability across channels, highlighting any risks and opportunities to the immediate team.
• Oversees seasonal recodes.
• Oversees delivery tracker and amends forecasts to reflect risks and opportunities, demonstrating awareness of the impact on end‑of‑season stock targets and communicating this to the planner.
• Responsible for actioning seasonal markdowns and communicating to stores.
• Leads regular store visits, analysing store reports prior and presenting feedback to the team.
• Understands where RL fits within the wider retail environment through comprehensive competitor analysis and identifies areas of opportunity and risk.
• Adopts a positive and proactive approach to own training and development as well as that of peers.
• Proactively promotes improvements to working practices and systems.
• Provides support to new team members, ensuring they understand the training given and department processes.
• Supports the team in achieving personal goals.
• Participates in company initiatives as appropriate.
• Participates in team wellness and prioritises psychological safety.
• Creates and maintains strong working relationships within cross‑functional teams:
  Buying, Allocations, ECOM and the retail store teams.
• Liaises with Assortment Planning and Buying partners to review and assist in the formation of seasonal lessons learned, influencing future buys using analysis and historical data to ensure commercial decisions are made.

• Strong analytical and numerical mindset.
• Effective communicator – able to communicate messages clearly and concisely to a variety of audiences.
• Able to work autonomously, results‑oriented and able to ‘think outside the box’.
• Demonstrates logical analysis and problem‑solving skills.
• Solution‑oriented and positively embraces change.
• Able to organise, prioritise tasks and manages time well to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrates self‑awareness of impact on others and seeks feedback on ways to improve.
• Builds and maintains productive relationships within a team environment.
• Competent in using Microsoft Excel and BI reporting tools.
• Attention to detail.
• Regularly recognises and praises good work.
• Leads by example and is a good associate role model.
• Desire to have fun at work and an appreciation for product.