Lead Margin Planning

Job Summary
We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Sr. Manager - Margin Planning & Pricing to join our Category Team. This role will focus on the planning and implementation of market-specific offers, payout within discount budgets, and driving incremental improvements in margins, sales mix, and inventory efficiency. The ideal candidate will be a result-oriented leader with a strong background in margin planning, pricing strategies, and inventory management, as well as experience in delivering insights that drive business growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Planning & Implementation of Market-Specific Offers:
• Lead the planning and execution of market-specific offers and promotional strategies that align with overall business goals.
• Collaborate with the marketing and sales teams to design offers that drive revenue, enhance margins, and optimize sales mix.
• Ensure timely and accurate implementation of pricing, discounts, and offers in line with market requirements.
• Payout Within Discount Budgets:
• Manage and track discount budgets to ensure effective allocation and adherence to financial targets.
• Monitor the impact of pricing and discount strategies on overall margins, ensuring alignment with profitability objectives.
• Work closely with finance and sales teams to ensure accurate payout forecasting and reporting.
• Margin, Sales Mix, and Inventory Planning at Store Level:
• Develop detailed margin, sales mix, and inventory plans at the store level, ensuring they are aligned with overall business plans.
• Coordinate with category managers and regional teams to ensure accurate forecasting of product demand and alignment of inventory levels with market needs.
• Implement strategies to optimize product assortment, pricing, and inventory turnover, ensuring consistent growth in margins and sales performance.
• Insight-Based Incremental Improvements:
• Analyze market trends, sales data, and customer preferences to generate actionable insights for improving margins and sales mix.
• Use data-driven insights to adjust pricing strategies and product assortments, ensuring alignment with changing market dynamics.
• Continuously identify opportunities to refine pricing bands, improve margin efficiencies, and maximize market potential.
• Maximizing Market Potential:
• Work with cross-functional teams to identify growth opportunities and areas for improvement in market-specific offers.
• Ensure that product offerings are aligned with customer expectations and market demand, driving long-term profitability.
• Develop and execute strategies to improve market penetration and expand customer base while maintaining margin discipline.
• Inventory Efficiency Improvements:
• Monitor and manage inventory efficiency to reduce excess stock and minimize markdowns, improving working capital.
• Collaborate with supply chain and logistics teams to optimize inventory flow and reduce lead times.
• Ensure inventory planning at the store level is accurate and aligned with sales and promotional strategies.
• Collaborative Stakeholder Management:
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including category management, marketing, finance, and operations to align goals and objectives.
• Regularly present insights and updates to senior management, providing recommendations for enhancing margin performance, sales mix, and inventory efficiency.
• Foster strong relationships with external partners and vendors to negotiate favorable pricing terms and improve cost structures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field (MBA preferred).
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in margin planning, pricing strategy, or category management, ideally within retail, FMCG, or e-commerce.
• Proven experience in developing and executing pricing strategies and promotional offers at the market or category level.
• Strong understanding of margin analysis, sales mix optimization, and inventory management.
• Expertise in financial modeling, budgeting, and tracking discount programs.
• Proficient in data analysis and the use of tools like Excel, Power BI, or other analytics platforms.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to interact with senior management and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to think strategically while being detail-oriented in execution.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to identifying opportunities for improvement.

Desired Skills

• Experience with advanced pricing tools and software.
• Knowledge of consumer behavior and market trends.
• Familiarity with ERP systems and inventory management software.
• Leadership experience, with the ability to mentor and guide junior team members.

Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Health and wellness benefits.
• Professional development and growth opportunities.