Merchandise Planning Analyst

Summary

Join Olsam as a Merchandise Planning Analyst and play a crucial role in strengthening inventory planning processes and driving strategic inventory efficiency. This key strategic role spans all brands and sales channels, contributing to brand growth, improved working capital efficiency, and operational scalability. The ideal candidate possesses strong demand planning or merchandising experience and a strategic, analytical mindset. Core responsibilities include demand forecasting, purchase planning, and optimizing inventory flow. You will collaborate with the Merchandise Planning Manager and Brand Managers, ensuring consistent brand stocking to support growth. This role involves managing a direct report and optimizing inventory across various locations.

Requirements

• 3+ years' experience Demand Planning and/or Merchandise Planning, ideally within an ecommerce or marketplace environment
• Strong analytical and forecasting skills, with exceptional attention to numerical accuracy and a highly numerate mindset
• Highly proficient in MS Excel and other analytical tools
• Strong commercial mindset, able to understand tradeoffs and working capital impact
• Excellent communication and coordination skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally across all levels of the business

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain sales forecasts by partnering with Brand Managers to account for seasonality, promotions, and growth plans
• Monitor forecast accuracy by tracking actual sales vs. plan and highlighting key trends or outliers
• Build and update inventory purchase plans in collaboration with Procurement to meet forecasted demand
• Manage the PO process and timelines with Procurement to ensure timely stock availability
• Support inventory-related cash flow planning with the Merchandise Planning & Procurement Manager
• Monitor overall inventory health, escalating overstock or understock risks and coordinating timely deliveries
• Maintain and share key inventory KPIs, providing visibility across functions
• Lead cross-functional communication and manage one direct report to optimise inventory across 3PL, Amazon, and in-transit locations

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing small teams is desirable
• Experience managing purchasing and/or sales budgets

Benefits

• Competitive Salary: up to £50,000 per year
• 30 days holiday + 8 UK bank holidays
• Pension contribution Scheme – 5% from you, 3% from us
• Private Medical Insurance – Includes travel, vision & dental (through Vitality)
• Work from Abroad – One month per year, anywhere in the world*
• Bonus Scheme – Discretionary bonus, based on individual and company performance
• Mental Health Support – Free, confidential therapy via Spill
• Opportunity for International Travel – Our team members have been to New York, Vegas, Amsterdam… and Birmingham!
• Flexi-Fridays – Finish early one Friday per month
• Olstar Events – Quarterly meetups, celebrations & socials
• Vibrant Office – Runway East, Bloomsbury