Merchandise Specialist

Demand & Item Planning Analyst

Team Member Role Summary

Responsible for developing accurate demand forecasts for General Merchandise categories to support inventory planning, product availability, and business growth. The role requires strong analytical skills, forecasting expertise, and collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

· Develop and deliver demand forecasts for General Merchandise products within agreed timelines.

· Analyze historical sales, promotional activities, seasonality, and business trends to create accurate forecasts.

· Update forecasts based on changing business conditions such as promotions, assortment changes, supply disruptions, and market trends.

· Perform forecast variance analysis and provide root cause insights and recommendations.

· Document and communicate forecast assumptions, adjustments, and business rationale.

· Collaborate with Merchandising, Supply Chain, Category Management, and supplier teams to gather planning inputs.

· Monitor forecast accuracy and support continuous improvement initiatives.

· Prepare dashboards, reports, and planning metrics to support business decision-making.

· Ensure adherence to forecasting processes, data quality standards, and governance requirements.

Required Skills

· Demand Planning & Forecasting

· Supply Chain & Inventory Planning

· Retail Analytics

· Forecast Accuracy & Variance Analysis

· Advanced Excel (Pivot Tables, Lookups, Power Query)

· Power BI/Tableau (preferred)

· Strong Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills

· Stakeholder Management & Communication