Job Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Formulategroup Category

• Formulate store & Central buffer ordering strategy to mitigate risks and categories to maximize sales & profitability.
• Build strong cross functional coordination to ensure accurate sales, Indent plans and maximum profitability.

1. Inventory Budgeting, Management & Control

• Formulate Inventory Budget requirement for the category group for the year, months and seasons.
• Ensure collections inventory plan is part of annual inventory.
• Store level Inventory budgets and as performance.
• Adjust the Inventory as per sales trends.

1. Ensure effective Sales and Indent Planning

• Direct the planning process from sales plan, Indent plan till inventory management.
• Direct team to build Category wise and Store wise Model Stock plan taking in account key inputs of past trends, Category price point turns and seasonality.
• Direct team to build define Store wise sales plan based on key inputs like target SSPD and growth plans.
• Facilitate close monitoring of sales for Stores, categories price points and intervene with necessary interventions in production incase of deviations.
• Lead and facilitate accurate Indent plans/projections through close monitoring of sales and foreseeing risks.
• Work collaboratively with cross functional teams to ensure close adherence to Indent plans and guide team in case of exceptions.
• Oversee timelines and quantities of inventories are adhered to and produced as per stock plan.
• Ensure planning for production and warehouse capacity along with category wise phasing and GRN date finalization.
• Oversee and ensure OTB and Indent Plan closure through a month wise intake plan, finalized SKUs and buy quantity as per timelines.

1. Create Model Stock as per margin objectives

• Liasoning with category team to finalize Model Stock and Range Plan to ensure minimum deviation from realized margins.
• Guiding team to ensure final margins are as per category margin targets.

1. ProcessInstitutionalization and Management

• Develop metrics, tools, and processes to analyze sales data more effectively for accurate projections.
• Develop and implement protocols and practices to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of strategic initiatives.
• Review business calendar to ensure timelines budgeted for activities are not compromised.
• Guide team to provide inputs for key processes like dispatch of goods from warehouse.
• Ensure timely and accurate product Universe and PR & PO management by team.
• Monitor weekly performance and delivery against commitments.
• Analyze critical milestones in, establish priorities and ensure smooth workflow throughappropriate interventions with cross functional teams.

1. Ensuring proactive and effective team development & management

• Identifying training needs, development planning and grooming talent within department.
• Setting clear performance expectations and providing constructive feedback to the team on a regular basis.
• To maintain an employee connect with the team, seeking feedback from the team regularly.

Critical Competencies for Success:

1. Tactical Planning: Ability to formulate category-level inventory and sales strategies aligned with business goals.
2. Analytical Acumen: Expertise in interpreting sales trends, forecasting, and adjusting plans proactively.
3. Process Excellence: Skill in institutionalizing planning processes, tools, and metrics for efficiency.
4. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong capability to coordinate with multiple teams for seamless execution.
5. Leadership & Team Development: Proven ability to lead, mentor, and build high-performing planning teams.
6. Decision-Making Under Uncertainty: Ability to foresee risks and implement corrective actions swiftly.
   

Person Profile

1. Education: Graduate/Postgraduate in Business Management, Retail Management, or related field. MBA preferred.
2. Experience: 10+ years in Merchandising Planning or Inventory Management within jewellery or luxury retail.
3. Industry Knowledge: Deep understanding of jewellery categories (gold, diamond, bridal, essential wear), pricing strategies, and seasonality.
4. Detail-oriented and proactive.