Merchandise Planning Manager

Manager, Merchandise Planning

This role will be accountable for driving profitable sales for the region, managing sales and inventory activities by setting SKU sales targets, maintaining a bottoms-up open-to-buy plan, monitoring inventory aging and quality, and providing stock productivity analysis. The ideal candidate blends strong analytical capability with a commercial mindset and collaborative communication skills.

What Youll Do

• Develop seasonal financial plans by class, department, and channel, including sales, units, margin, and inventory.
• Build and maintain item‑level or class‑level forecasts based on historical performance, trends, and merchant strategy.
• Translate business strategy into monthly and weekly sales plans.
• Own inventory flow, weeks of supply, and receipt plans to support sales while minimizing markdown risk.
• Partner with Allocation/Replenishment to optimize initial buys and ongoing replenishment.
• Identify risks and opportunities related to overstock, shortages, or flow disruptions.
• Manage the markdown in season and closeout/end-of-life process.
• Produce style count and SKU productivity targets to govern the regions range selection activity. Monitor performance against these targets and make recommendations to the Merchant team to improve results.
• Partner with Merchants/Buyers to align assortments and buy quantities with financial goals.
• Work with Finance on forecasts, re‑projections, and inventory investments.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Allocation to ensure receipts and store/channel flow align with demand.
• Analyze sell‑through, productivity, aged inventory, and margin drivers.
• Provide post‑mortem analysis to inform future seasons.
• Work cross-functionally with other departments within the organization to optimize buy targets, SKU optimization, and time-phased category plans.
• Monitor OTB flow for the current buying season and an extended 18- month strategic open-to-buy plan for future product seasons.
• Manage in-season inventory activities, forecasting to a roll-forward projection and making adjustments based on the agreed-upon top-down plan.

What Youll Bring

• Experience in footwear retail merchandise planning, buying, demand, and supply planning
• Knowledge of different business operating models
• Successful Retail Merchandise, Buying, Demand and Supply Planning experience
• Experience in key distribution channels - wholesale, retail, and digital
• Ability to analyze trends and use that information to plan and forecast effectively
• Strong analytical and verbal skills
• Strong computer skills, including the following tools:
• Data warehouse/data mart query and report development tools
• Advanced Microsoft Excel (if statements, linking, pivot tables, etc.)
• Planning Software (MID, Blue Yonder, NSB/STS/MMS, I2, Retek, Evant, SAP, etc.)

About Clarks

Clarks, based in Somerset, England, has been at the forefront of innovative shoemaking since its foundation in 1825, when brother James and Cyrus Clark made a slipper from sheepskin off cuts. At the time it was ground-breaking: a combination of invention and craftsmanship that has remained at the heart of what the brand does now. In the Clarks archive of more than 22,000 pairs that have sparked revolutions and defined generations. From the original Clarks Desert Boot, first designed by Nathan Clark and Launched in 1950, to the iconic Wallabee, each design has an instantly recognizable signature that makes it unmistakably Clarks. This season, were proud to introduce the Clarks Collective: five incredible activists championing authentic social change. From mental health awareness and LGBTQ+ rights to greater racial equality, these trailblazers are committed to creating a brighter future for us all-bringing to life Clarks new global campaign, for the World Ahead. Through spotlighting their stories and supporting their chosen charities and initiatives, were ready to lead the way. After all, were the originators, not imitators. Its who we are, who weve always been. And to change the world of tomorrow, were doing things differently today.As a global employer, Clarks is committed to embracing diversity throughout our workforce by creating an inclusive environment that reflects the many cultures and locations where we work. We strive to create a productive environment which everyone has an equal chance to succeed at all levels through the organization. We will not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, disability, marital status, color, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or gender re-assignment, complying with local legislative requirements.

Actual compensation within a pay range will be based on factors including but not limited to a candidate's relevant experience, qualifications, performance, Clarks' business needs, internal equity and any statutory obligations. The pay range for this role may be modified by Clarks at any time in the future.