Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Retail Management, or related field. 3-5 years of experience in merchandise planning, financial planning, or retail analysis, preferably in fashion or multi-category retail. Experience with planning systems such as JDA, Power BI, Tableau, SAP, or similar. Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced retail environment.
Description
Job description / Role
Job Type
Full Time
Job Location
Dubai, UAE
Nationality
Any Nationality
Salary
Not Specified
Gender
Not Specified
Arabic Fluency
Not Specified
Job Function
Finance, Business Analysis & Consulting
Company Industry
Retail
About the company
Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.
By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day.
Overview of the role
The Assistant Planning Manager plays a crucial role in supporting the Planning function by developing accurate financial, sales, and inventory plans across various channels and markets. This role is key to forecasting sales, margin, markdown, and inventory requirements, which are essential for maintaining robust business performance and effective stock management. Collaborating closely with Merchandising, Allocation, Retail, and Supply Chain teams, the Assistant Planning Manager ensures that all plans are well-aligned and executed with precision. They contribute to the annual business planning and are instrumental in managing markdown strategies to optimize sales and profitability.
What you will do
Business planning
Responsible for planning annual business plan by market and business unit.
Deliver weekly warehouse sales and stock intake (WSSI) for clothing & home, food and total business.
Execute markdown management ensuring alignment with business objectives.
Sales & financial planning
Support the development of seasonal and annual sales plans by market, store, category, and channel (Retail, E-Commerce, Omnichannel).
Assist in building weekly, monthly, and seasonal sales forecasts, incorporating past performance, trends, and business drivers.
Prepare financial projections for gross profit, gross margin, markdown, and inventory.
Track performance versus plan and highlight risks or opportunities.
Business unit sales planning
Support Planning Manager in business unit sales planning by season, incorporating new product strategies and potential sales gaps from the previous year.
Monitor performance against plan, identifying risks, opportunities, and corrective actions to optimize seasonal results.
Markdown & price optimization
Support markdown planning, price phasing, and promotional analysis.
Track sell-through and aging stock to recommend timely markdown actions.
Partner with Merchandising to ensure markdown strategy protects margin while achieving sell-through targets.
Reporting & analysis
Prepare weekly and monthly business performance reports including sales, margin, stock, and KPIs.
Analyze product, category, and store performance to support strategic decisions.
Identify business risks and provide insight-driven recommendations.
Cross-functional collaboration
Support Finance in validating forecasts and financial submissions.
Work with Buying and Merchandising team on weekly BU and department level planning.
System & process support
Maintain accurate planning data and product hierarchies in reporting systems.
Develop templates, dashboards, and presentations for planning reviews.
Required skills to be successful
Strong analytical and numerical skills, proficient in Excel and reporting tools.
Strong communication and presentation skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively across functions.
Advanced Excel and reporting skills.
What qualifies you for the role
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Retail Management, or related field.
3-5 years of experience in merchandise planning, financial planning, or retail analysis, preferably in fashion or multi-category retail.
Experience with planning systems such as JDA, Power BI, Tableau, SAP, or similar.
Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced retail environment.
About Al-Futtaim Retail
Al-Futtaim Retail has established itself as one of the leaders in retail across the Middle East, Africa & Asia over the past 30 years. We have developed partnerships with some of the biggest and most respected brands in the world including IKEA, ACE and Toys R Us in the Middle East and the Inditex Group of Brands (Zara, Mango, Bershka and P&B) across Asia. We are also one of the largest global partners of Marks and Spencer’s in both regions with over 75 stores offering both fashion & food options.
Most recently we have been responsible for bringing brands to the Middle East for the first time with the exciting launches of Watsons and B&Q and we aim to continue to be agile and adaptive to our markets with new launches and further development. For this to be possible we aim to recruit the best talent from all backgrounds who will continue to challenge and develop our diverse workforce which includes over 100 nationalities across 12 countries. Join us today and make a difference…
About the Company
Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.
The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.
The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.
Apply Now