Head - Product Planning

Position Name: Head of Product Planning

Work Location: Kalaghoda, Mumbai

Experience: Minimum 10 years, some who is doing the planning function 

Pan-India Strategic Planning & Forecasting:

· Develop and manage the holistic annual and seasonal Open-to-Buy (OTB) plan for the entire network of 11 stores

· Create sales and inventory forecasts by region, city, store cluster, and door, accounting for demographic, climatic, and cultural buying patterns using historical data analysis where it already exists

· Lead the development of a cluster-based strategy (e.g., defining which stores are "Flagship," "High-Volume," "Emerging," etc.) and tailor assortments and budgets accordingly. Essentially build our brand portfolio and assortment from the store level up

· Define and monitor pricing, promotion, and markdown strategies on a national and regional level

Multi-Location Inventory Management & Allocation:

· Plan and manage all inventory flows from central distribution to each of the 11 stores.

· Implement a dynamic replenishment model that responds to real-time sales data across all locations.

· Lead the strategy for intra-inventory transfers between stores to balance stock and maximize full-price sell-through

· Mitigate regional overstock and stock-out risks through proactive analysis and action

Cross-Functional Leadership:

· Partner with Buying & Merchandising to build a cohesive national assortment plan with localized depth where needed

· Collaborate with Regional/Store Managers to understand ground-level performance, customer feedback, and competitive landscape in each city

· Provide the leadership team with a consolidated view of national performance, plus deep-dive analyses on regional opportunities and threats

· Work with Logistics and Supply Chain to ensure efficient and timely inventory distribution

Team Leadership & Systems:

· Build and lead a high-performing planning and allocation team capable of managing multi-store complexity

· Establish, track, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) for the entire network and individual stores (e.g., GMROI, Sell-Through %, WOS, Sales per Sq. Ft., stock cover

· Champion the use of advanced planning systems and BI tools to enhance forecasting accuracy and operational efficiency

Key Result Areas (KRAs) & Performance Metrics:

The success of the Head of Product Planning will be measured against the following key performance indicators, which are vital to driving profitability and inventory efficiency across the 11-store network:

1. Financial Performance

· Gross Margin Return on Investment (GMROI): Maximize the return on every rupee invested in inventory

· Gross Margin %: Achieve or exceed the planned gross margin targets by minimizing markdowns and optimizing sell-through

· Sales vs. Plan: Achieve or exceed the overall sales budget as well as category-level sales targets

2. Inventory Productivity & Efficiency

· Inventory Turnover: Increase the number of times inventory is sold and replaced within a given period

· Weeks of Supply (WOS): Maintain optimal inventory levels to support sales plans without incurring excess stock

· End-of-Season Stock %: Minimize leftover seasonal inventory to reduce carrying costs and markdown liabilities

3. Commercial Performance

· Sell-Through Rate (%): Achieve target sell-through rates at full price, particularly for key items and collections.

· Sell-Thru % (Category/Store Level): Monitor and improve sell-through performance across different product categories and individual store locations.

· Markdown % / Discount Efficiency: Control the depth and timing of markdowns to protect profitability

4. Forecasting & Planning Accuracy

· Open-to-Buy (OTB) Adherence: Ensure actual inventory commitments align closely with the planned OTB budget

· Sales Forecast Accuracy: Measure the accuracy of pre-season and in-season sales forecasts versus actual results.

· Demand Forecasting Error: Minimize variance between forecasted and actual demand at the SKU level

5. Range & Allocation Effectiveness

· Performance by Store Cluster: Ensure sales and inventory plans are effectively tailored to and met by each store cluster (e.g., Metro, Tier-1)

· Stock-to-Sales Ratio: Maintain a healthy ratio of inventory to sales for each store and category

• · Size Curve Optimization: Minimize size-related stockouts and overstocks through improved analysis and allocation

ABOUT ENSEMBLE

Ensemble encapsulates precisely what it means…a collection of beautiful garments brought together. Ensemble has been a destination store for those in the know for over 35 years. Our DNA is not only made up of great fashion moments but also of many special occasions. To us clothes are not only for an occasion, they are an integral part of our lives. What makes us unique is our passion for championing and nurturing traditional Indian craftsmanship. From bringing the sari back into fashion, to reviving fabrics and embroidery techniques; Ensemble is committed to marrying India's rich heritage of incredible workmanship with an elegant contemporary aesthetic.

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