Head of Planning

Our Client ; A powerhouse in value-led, large-format retail is building its next wave of growth - and they need a seasoned planning head who’s operated at serious scale. This isn’t about chasing SKUs. It’s about orchestrating a high-volume, high-velocity business with over USD 500 million in turnover . Complexity is high, and pace is non-negotiable.

Your Role ; You’ll sit at the intersection of merchandising, finance, and operations - leading the planning engine that drives availability, margins, and profitability across territories.

• Build and execute a regional planning strategy that aligns stock, demand, and revenue across multiple markets
• Run the full planning cycle - pre-season, in-season, markdowns, replenishment, and open-to-buy
• Optimize stock turns, reduce ageing, and own every metric that matters from GMROI to sell-through
• Balance promotional ambition with supply chain logic - no overstock, no underperformance
• Present to the boardroom, operate on the shopfloor - this is not a desk job
• Drive planning cadence - weekly, not quarterly. Clear dashboards, faster feedback loops

Must Have

• 18 + years in retail or large-format planning, with minimum USD 500 million+ turnover exposure
• Proven experience in department stores, mass retail, or value-led formats across developed markets
• Gravitas to lead with influence - can challenge buyers, align finance, and direct supply chain
• Deep knowledge of planning tools and analytics - you get the math, and what it means on the ground
• Operated at speed - can move from detail to decision in a single meeting
• Based in or open to relocating to the UAE