Merchandising and Planning Manager

Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage stock plans across all business channels such as retail stores, e-commerce, wholesale partners, and Q-commerce platforms.
• Monitor key inventory KPIs, including ageing stock, stock turns, GMROI, stockout rates, and overstocks across the warehouse and stores.
• Collaborate with Commercial Lead to align on assortment strategy, category priorities, brand plans, and budget allocations.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive merchandising strategy covering all key beauty categories, including skincare, makeup, haircare, fragrance, beauty devices, and wellness.
• Conduct market, consumer, and competitor analysis to identify assortment gaps, category opportunities, and emerging beauty trends.
• Regularly review product lifecycle stages and recommend SKU rationalisation where necessary.
• Lead the end-to-end demand planning process using historical sales data, category insights, store behaviours, and promotional calendar.
• Build monthly, quarterly, and annual sales forecasts aligned with business revenue targets and marketing plans.
• Serve as the central link between multiple departments to ensure smooth operational execution and product availability across all channels.
• Provide actionable insights to retail operations to improve in-store product visibility, merchandising, and planogram compliance.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the management.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Statistics, Supply Chain Management, Retail Management, or any related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in Merchandising, Category Management, Demand Planning, or Buying (preferably in beauty, FMCG, distribution/wholesale, or retail) is an advantage.
• Experience managing product assortments across multiple categories and channels, including demand forecasting, stock planning, and operating within fast-paced, high-SKU environments with frequent product launches.
• Ability to create and manage SKU-level forecasts, stock coverage reports, and replenishment plans.
• Strong skills in demand forecasting, data analysis, and interpreting sales trends. 
• Strong understanding of retail math, including margins, GMROI, stock turn, and profitability calculations.
• Ability to negotiate with suppliers and articulate stock needs or discrepancies professionally.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to present brand performance and insight to stakeholders clearly.
• Proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets (pivot tables, Vlookup/Xlookup, forecasting models, data cleaning, dashboard creation).
• Experience using inventory management, planning, or ERP systems (e.g., Odoo, SAP, Oracle, Netsuite, Zoho Inventory, or similar).
• Understanding of merchandising metrics: stock turn, GMROI, sell through, coverage, OTB, ageing, stock-out rate, and margin analysis.
• understanding of retail & e-commerce merchandising operations, especially multi-channel environments.
• Familiarity with beauty, personal care, and FMCG product categories, typical SKU behaviour, product lifecycle, seasonality, core, seasonal, phasing out, and markdown strategies.
• Knowledge of supply chain processes, lead times, MOQs, safety stock principles, and inbound logistics.
• Awareness of market trends, pricing strategies, competitive landscapes, new category opportunities, and a solid grasp of promotion & campaign planning and its impact on forecast accuracy and stock planning. 

Remuneration: NGN 450,000-600,000