Merchandise Planning Manager

Dogs, cats, budgies and everything in between - pets deserve the world. They make us want to be better humans. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to build the most engaged and passionate community of pets and pet parents across the world. And we’re looking for talented team mates who can help us do it.

Founded in Sydney, our team of 500+ pet obsessives span Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines. We’ve scaled to become one of Australia's top five eCommerce companies and the no.1 online pet store. But we’re just getting started. Like a whippet who’s spotted their mate across the dog park, our growth is only going to accelerate, as we continue to disrupt the way that pet parents shop.

Excitingly, the pet industry is booming (as in $15 billion kind of booming) and online pet retail is set to grow exponentially in the next five years. So this is a unique career opportunity to be part of our epic growth story.

The Opportunity

The Merchandise Planning Manager leads the merchandise planning function, working closely with the category Management, Operations, Finance, Marketing to achieve the Merchandise Budget. This role provides critical analytical support, producing and analysing financial metrics and key performance reports to drive commercial insights. You will drive and support planning to meet forecast accuracy KPIs and inventory objectives. This operational role requires strong cross-functional collaboration, results-driven action, and a commitment to excellence across all merchandise management activities.

What you’ll be doing

• Creation of the Merchandise Budget, working closely with the category managers to ensure it is aligned to objectives as directed by the VP of Merchandise and VP of Inventory & Planning.
• Monitor weekly performance metrics and current trends to identify risks and opportunities, working with your team to develop strategies to then mitigate or optimise
• Manage the month-end OTB sign off process which ensures that the in-season forecasting at the Category/Brand level, reflects current trend and supports the strategic objectives
• Partner with the VP, Merchandise, and the Category Manager in new product assortment strategies
• Ensure that forecasts set by the Planners on new product introductions align to Merchant expectation of trends.
• Manage ongoing in season & post season review of assortment performance
• Work with the Planners to ensure we are driving forecasts that are commercially sound
• Ensure inventory policies best support local market inventory objectives
• Manage the collaboration of the Supply Chain Planning process with the Merchandise Planning process, ensuring objectives are being realised (alignment between Financial and Unit driven (Anaplan) Category Plans)
• Analyses data and information, breaking it up into parts and patterns and probes for further information when required. Makes rational judgements from the information and analysis and produces workable solutions to problems accordingly.
• Sets clearly defined objectives, and plans projects, tasks and resources well in advance, taking into consideration possible changing circumstances. Manages time effectively and monitors performance against deadlines and milestones.

The ideal toolbox

• Experience in managing a Demand & Supply Planning function
• Experienced in using planning tools e.g. Foresight Retail, Anaplan, Just Enough or similar
• Proficiency in Business Intelligence & Reporting tools
• Minimum 5+ years merchandise planning in a retail environment
• Proven merchant mentality and commercial smarts
• A thorough understanding of Demand & Supply Planning, ideally experienced with implementation and process management of this discipline
• Omni channel retailing experience preferred
• Flexible and adaptable, able to work and multitask in a changing and fast paced environment
• Get things done, and be a key thought leader and business champion within the organization

Juicy perks

• Heaps of development opportunities - stretch projects, focus groups & secondments
• Flexible working environment
• Up to 50% employee discount
• Product sample giveaways
• Pawrental leave and wellbeing leave
• Team charity volunteer days
• Classpass subsidy

Role location

We believe that building connections and collaborating as Pet Circlers is super important. So this role is based in Sydney with a hybrid arrangement of 3 days per week in our pet friendly offices (your pet might love coming to the office even more than you). This is subject to change in line with business requirements.

Role location
We believe that building connections and collaborating as Pet Circlers is super important. So this role is based in Sydney with a hybrid arrangement of 3 days per week in our pet friendly offices (your pet might love coming to the office even more than you). This could change in line with business requirements.

Why Join?
We reckon our mission to help the world Pet Better is an important one, but also an incredibly fun and rewarding one. Becoming a Pet Circler means you’re committed to help shape an entire industry - it’s pretty exciting stuff. Here’s what we stand for:

We’re better together
We operate with humble hearts and hungry minds
Pets matter; so pets and pet parents always have a seat at our table
We’re instinctively curious. Always

Belong at Pet Circle
Our unique perspectives and expertise is our superpower - we value diversity in all forms. So, no matter your background, please apply if this role makes you excited to bring your full self to work each day.