The Merchandise Planning Manager is a newly created strategic role responsible for establishing and embedding a best-in-class merchandise planning function within CIH.
The role will define how planning supports buying, supply chain and member performance, creating a structured, data-led approach to demand forecasting, stock management, ranging, margin optimisation and promotional planning.
Working closely with the Purchasing Director, Buying Team and Operations function, the role will introduce commercial discipline, improve visibility of forward demand, reduce stock risk and enhance availability across all key product categories (consumer electronics, major domestic appliances, small domestic appliances and own brand).
WHAT YOU WILL DO
You will lead the development of CIH’s merchandise planning framework, creating a clear, data-driven demand signal that strengthens buying decisions, improves forecast accuracy and enhances stock, availability and working capital performance.
Your key responsibilities will be:
Merchandise Planning Strategy
You will shape CIH’s merchandise planning function by defining its structure and outputs, setting clear planning cycles, introducing consistent category planning and reporting, and developing stock and intake frameworks that support our financial and margin goals.
Forecasting and Demand Planning
You will lead the development of rolling, data‑driven demand forecasts across categories, brands and suppliers, creating a single aligned demand, supply and financial plan that unites Buying, Operations and Finance around one consistent view. You will introduce advanced forecasting methodologies to elevate accuracy, reduce volatility and ensure plans reflect supplier lead times, MOQs and production constraints, providing the strategic forward visibility needed to strengthen supplier negotiations and enable robust supply planning.
Inventory and Working Capital Management
You will define target stock cover, safety stock and intake phasing, monitor rate of sale and aged inventory, drive improvements in stock turn and reduction of excess, and work closely with Operations to optimise inbound flow and product availability.
Commercial and Buying Support
You will define service level and availability targets by category, develop inventory health frameworks including ABC/XYZ segmentation and lifecycle analysis, balance availability, stock investment and working capital considerations, provide objective trading insight to support buying decisions, contribute to range planning and product selection, quantify risk and opportunity within category plans, and model financial scenarios to inform commercial decisions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
You will partner with Operations to align demand forecasts with supply chain capacity, establish and lead a monthly Sales and Operations Planning/Integrated Business Planning process, support Finance with budgeting, reforecasting and margin analysis, work closely with Buyers to separate commercial intent from true demand, and provide forward volume visibility to enable effective Own Brand development.
Data, Systems and Capability
You will define the future roadmap for planning tools, data and reporting infrastructure, improve the quality, visibility and automation of planning outputs, and partner with IT and Digital teams to develop scalable, future‑ready planning capabilities.
Reporting and Governance
You will develop new KPI dashboards covering Sales vs Budget and Prior Year, Commission %, Availability %, Stock Turn, Forecast Accuracy (MAPE) and Aged Stock, lead monthly planning reviews with Buying and Operations, and create clear visibility of risk and opportunity across all categories.
THE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS YOU WILL HAVE
- Significant experience (5+ years) in merchandise planning, demand planning or commercial planning within multi-site and multi-channel retail, wholesale or buying group environments.
- Strong commercial acumen with understanding of margin, stock turn, availability and working capital drivers.
- Advanced analytical capability with strong Excel skills and experience using planning systems.
- Proven experience developing or reshaping planning processes within a growing organisation.
- Strong leadership skills with experience building and developing teams.
- Confident influencing style with the ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders.
- Experience working with Buying and Supply Chain across multiple categories.
It would be desirable if you have:
- Experience within electricals, consumer electronics or appliances.
- Experience gained in a buying group, franchise model or multi site retail environment.
BENEFITS
This role can be based in Andover or Tankersley. Benefits include a competitive package commensurate with experience, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, life assurance and pension scheme. Hybrid working with flexible working week. Please reach out to me wilkinsonl@cihgroup.com for the full job description and to answer any questions you may have or click on apply.
WHO WE ARE
Combined Independents (Holdings) Limited (CIH) is a not for profit buying group which is owned and governed by our membership (~450 independent high street electrical retail specialists based throughout the UK with over 600 outlets) and in 2023 celebrated our 60th year.
In many cases, our membership are family run businesses, some of which have been established for several generations, and part of many local communities and high streets that come together as part of a buying group. All of our CIH membership have the opportunity to be a part of our network of “Euronics Agents” and as such can operate by utilising the brand name Euronics, as well as trading to the public through www.euronics.co.uk.
CIH owns two purpose-built distribution centres, one in Tankersley to service the north and one in Andover to service the south, working closely with a dedicated warehouse and distribution partner at each centre. All of our colleagues are employed through CIH and are made up of experts in finance, HR, IT, logistics, ecommerce, marketing, and purchasing.
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 27 March 2026 – interviews are planned for w/c 6 April 2026
#J-18808-Ljbffr…